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From the Pastor's Heart
October 27, 2019
Good morning Enon church family and welcome to Sunday morning worship service! As we come to the end of our time here at Enon, I just want to say what a blessing each and every one of you have been to our family during our time of ministry at Enon!
We have been more than blessed to have been a part of your lives over the past several years. We have laughed together, cried together, hurt together, rejoiced together, but most of all we have served our Lord together!!
I have had the honor to marry many of your loved ones, and have also seen many make their final journey to be with the Lord. Through it all, the journey has been one that we are so grateful to have been a part of. Romans 8:28 tells us that: all things work together for good for those that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Sometimes we may not understand the will of God, we must simply look at it through the eyes of faith, knowing without a doubt that He knows and cares for what is best for us. I believe the Lord has great things in store for the Enon church family.
We came to Enon to hopefully encourage you–but you have been more of an encouragement to us! We came to hopefully share the love of God to everyone here at Enon–yet the love of God was shown to us through you!! We came to hopefully minister to you in Word and song–yet the Lord gave us a song and ministered to us through you!!
So, to our Heavenly Father and to each one here at Enon– we say, "Thank You"!! Your support and encouragement over the past several years have been more than we could have ever asked!! I challenge each and everyone to "keep on keeping on" for our Savior!! You have heard me preach this many times, but I will say it once more—Love God, and Love each other!!
If Enon is to continue on in the ministry of the Lord, these two principles must be adhered to! Also, pray for one another, serve one another, and simply be there for one another. I would not be truthful if I said "leaving doesn't hurt"–it hurts!! But we must follow the will of God as well as the body of Christ here at Enon.
Hopefully, the Lord will allow us to cross paths again one day! Until then, keep on serving our precious Savior and keep your eyes toward the skies–for He is coming soon!! We love you with all our heart!! May He continue to richly bless each one!!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew & Anna
From the Pastor's Heart
October 20, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship at Enon!
The miracle story in Mark chapter 2 is a powerful one. Jesus confounds His critics and confirms His divinity when He tells a paralyzed man to "take up his bed and walk home." As Jesus is teaching, all of a sudden, the roof opens up and down comes the paralyzed man being lowered by his friends. I believe the most stunning activity going on is the friends who carried the man to Jesus. There are some evangelism principles we can learn from these brave, unnamed individuals. First, they had a plan!
We must realize that if we are going to introduce our friends to Jesus, we must have a plan. Have you ever asked, "Why is my friend not a Christian?" There are a number of reasons such as Lack of knowledge or possibly a bad experience in church. When we know why someone is not a Christian, we can develop a plan to reach them. For example, we may know someone who has a lot of knowledge of the Bible, yet they refuse to change their lifestyle. We can't reach them with more knowledge, but we must show them the pain of sin and the blessing of following Christ.
Your life and testimony will become a vital part of this plan! The second principle we can learn from the story of Mark 2 is: They overcame a problem. The men who lowered their paralyzed friend to get to Jesus, had to overcome several obstacles: crowds, no way to enter into where Jesus was, and murmuring were just a few. Yet they made it to Jesus!!
Let us all remember that evangelism requires determination! It's easier not to share Christ. It's more comfortable to stay silent. We can find many reasons why now is not the time to witness to someone! If we are going to bring our friends to Jesus we must not give up so quickly. In every evangelistic encounter, be prepared to overcome obstacles and press on through!! Trust in the Lord to use your talents to accomplish His will.
Finally, the men who carried this man to Jesus understood their role. It is evident that these men loved their friend. They wanted him to get up and walk, but his healing was not within their power. The needed to get him to Jesus!!
Our role is to share Christ with our unbelieving friends — not to be their savior!! May we all be willing to go the extra mile and do whatever it takes to win our friends and family to Christ!! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
October 13, 2019
Good morning and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon!
The spiritual battle problems we face are commonly packaged in circumstances like financial crunches, people conflicts, or schedule challenges. These are all very real, yet Scripture reminds us that there is something else, something larger in motion. We all have a role in the battle of good and evil. Ephesians 6:12 tells us: We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. One of the best ways to defeat the enemy, rather than be defeated, is to know his tactics. if you know what the enemy is up to, you can be on guard.
I want to list what I believe to be the top five tactics used against us in the spiritual battle.
- The enemy prevents humility, by promoting self-sufficiency. The enemy is a schemer and wants to think we "can do this" when faced with problems. Instead of saying "I can do this", replace it with "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!" Lean on genuine humility, and openly depend on God.
- The enemy prevents unity by creating division. The enemy loves it when churches split and fight among one another. Division is the quiet killer of the church. The church must strive to be unified-or in one accord. Otherwise the enemy will divide and ultimately destroy the church.
- The enemy prevents joy by causing discouragement. I have seen discouragement take out more church leaders and members than anything else, especially if it is prolonged. Always look for the good God is doing despite the circumstance–He is always looking out for your best interest!!
- The enemy prevents commitment by encouraging complacency. The idea here is that it is not about works, but to keep your heart for God and pursue Him first!!
- The enemy prevents peace (and closeness to God) by busyness. The peace of God is a great gift, but the enemy does not want you to have it! Our lives can become so cluttered with "things to do" that we can overlook our personal relationship with God. Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness!!
Let us all be mindful of the tactics of the enemy but know that our great God gives us victory over any and every scheme that is thrown our way!! May He richly bless each one here today!!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
October 6, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! What really gets you moving in life? What gives your life purpose or a sense of meaning? What is your passion? Some would say, "It's just to live — take one day at a time." They just exist, following impulses and desires. They live for the moment or for the next paycheck or next weekend!
The apostle Paul mentioned these people when he said; "Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they only think about this life here on earth" (Phil 1:19). They live just to satisfy the appetites of life. Some may even say, "I live for possessions always wanting something more." Their philosophy is that the one who dies with the most toys wins. I would add that the one who dies with the most toys wins nothing! Jesus said, "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul (Matt 16:26).
King Solomon had incredible possessions, yet here is what he had to say: "I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire!…but as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless–like chasing the wind" (Eccl. 2:8, 11).
You see, the apostle Paul had it right when he stated the real purpose for life: "To live is Christ" (Phil 1:21). Paul went to Rome to preach but ended up under house arrest. As a result, he was able to reach an elite group of people that he would not have reached otherwise. Paul understood that God had His hand in it! He said, "Everything that has happened to me here has helped me to spread the good news" (Phil 1:12).
Did it ever occur to you that you are where you are right now because God wants you there? It may not be the best situation or circumstance but rest assured that His plan, His purpose, and His path are for our better good!!
What do you live for? If you have faith in Christ and know what it means to live for Him, then you will have your feet on the ground, but your heart and your thoughts will be in heaven desiring to live for Him!! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
September 29, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! How you start your day in the morning plays an essential part in how your day progresses, and ultimately, how it ends up. If we choose to roll out of the bed and let life blindside us without spending some time with God, often the cares of life and the stress that comes with it can quickly overwhelm us. If our focus at the beginning of the day is on the challenges of life and not on God, it is easy to lose our peace and stumble through the day on our heels. On the other hand, if we seek God first and spend time in His presence, we can leave that place of morning fellowship empowered and energized to take on whatever the day brings.
By taking time to focus on the Lord, the things we will deal with throughout the day seem to lose their grip on us because our strength is coming from God. Every morning, we should greet the Lord and slip right into praying to Him. We should seek His heart about the questions we have and the ones that may arise throughout the day.
He loves us more than we know, and the time we spend with Him is precious and more vital than most realize. Mark 1:35 says: And in t he morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. There is no greater example of morning prayer in the Bible than that of the Savior! In this passage of scripture, we see that even Jesus rose early in the morning to pray. We too should follow His example and seek God before the day begins. We should talk to Him, read His Word, and always give thanks for His blessings in our lives.
Remember also—prayer is not a one-way conversation!! Let the Lord speak to your heart as you fellowship with Him before the day begins. When we wake up in the morning, we should instantly be reminded that God has given us another day to live for Him!
One of the most significant takeaways from praying in the morning is the fact that we have a greater awareness that the Lord is not only with us at the start of the day, but all day–and He will never leave us!! When we seek the Lord early for His direction, He will help us with anything we face throughout the day!! Romans 8:31 says: If God before us, who can be against us. Let's put Him before us the very first thing every day. May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
September 22, 2019
Good morning and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! Proverbs 17:22 says: A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. When I read this verse, I am reminded of the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words." There are two very opposite images in this verse: a joyful heart and a broken spirit. A broken spirit could refer to heaviness from anxious or depressing thoughts. It affects our whole being (dries up the bones). In other words, a broken spirit is draining both physically and spiritually. It's hard enough when we experience pain or deep loss, but when it consumes us, we are tempted to feel forgotten by God or even to forget God! We feel hopeless and lack the strength to persevere. I'd rather have the joyful heart!!
But how does this happen when we are anxious and hurt? We must look to the heart. The Bible often refers to the inner man or our true self when the word "heart" is used. The condition of our heart can be seen through our outward expressions, such as tears or smiles, or even our health. For example, Proverbs 12:25 says; Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop; but a good word maketh it glad. Also Proverbs 15:13 says; A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. A joyful heart does not mean we will be smiling or laughing all the time, or constantly jumping for joy. A joyful heart, however, is possible even when life is stressful and hard.
How do we have this joyful heart? First we must humble ourselves to God! A joyful heart rests in God's control of our life!! Rest in believing that God knows and cares for your need. Next, we must believe God's truth over our thoughts. Psalms 19:8 says: The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. Ever since the fall of man, we have believed ourselves to know better than God. However, a good word that is biblical and loving can refresh your soul!! Trust His Word!!
Finally, we must pray always and not give up! Philippians 4:4 says: Rejoice in the Lord always… A person who keeps praying is the person who perseveres!! Because of His truth, it is possible to have joy in the midst of chaos!! Trust Him today and everyday!! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
September 15, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship at Enon!
What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? Does this mean that our day is filled with supernatural feelings and impulses such as when we are driving we hear a voice saying, "turn left, drive two miles, stop your car, get out and go into the building on your right." This is not what it means to walk in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit could guide us to do something like this, but this is not what the Bible means to "Walk in the Spirit." To walk in the Spirit means to obey the Holy Spirit. To live life according to the Spirit. Galatians 4:16 tells us: This I say then, walk in the Spirit…The Holy Spirit is God, the third person of the Trinity.
The Holy Spirit is a person! He is not a force or power. As a person, He knows us, speaks to us, leads us, helps us, strengthens us, and changes us!! How does the Holy Spirit lead us? First, He dwells within us! When we are saved, we are born again by the Holy Spirit who comes to live in us. I Corinthians 6: 19 tells us: …your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you. The Holy Spirit actually lives inside every believer. He doesn't direct us from the outside but from our inner being. John 14:17 says: Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him; but ye know Him for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you.
Isn't this a wonderful thought, know that God Himself takes up residence within us!! He never leaves us and never takes a break! Even when we are not aware of His presence, He still dwells within us! The Holy Spirit begins His work of sanctifying us, changing us, making us holy, and making us like Christ.
II Corinthians 3:18 tells us: But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. This passage tells us as we behold the Lord through Scripture, through prayer, and by fellowshipping with other believers, that the Holy Spirit "transforms us into the same image" — makes us more like Christ!!
The task of the Holy Spirit in our lives is so important! But our task in walking in the Spirit is even more important!! May we follow and obey the Holy Spirit daily!! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
September 8, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! Last week, we began to look at the relation of church attendance and faith. We stated last week that wandering from faith often begins with wandering from church. I believe there are three good reasons to support this claim.
We mentioned the first reason last week and it is: the church is here to remind us. God knows how forgetful we can be of who He is and what He has done for us. C.S. Lewis once said, "People need to be reminded more than instructed." And that is what church will do–remind us just how good the Lord is to us!!
A second reason is: when we leave the church, we embrace self- reliance. Part of the reason we go to church is because we need to!! We need to because we know we are weak. We know we need other people. And we know other people need us. This is why Paul used the human body to illustrate what the church is like–each part has its own importance and depends on each other part. When we leave the church, we are essentially saying, "I don't need this, I don't need you, I only need myself." That is when pride can slip in and we suddenly not only neglect the church but also the authority of God.
Finally, when we leave the church, we create a gap. God made us to live in a community with other believers–it's in our DNA! This is at least part of what it means to be created in the image of God-that just as God exists in perfect community with Himself, so also are we created to live in relationships with other people. When we cut ourselves off from the church, we create a gap, and that gap is going to be filled with someone or something. This is a dangerous place to be! Don't think for one moment that Satan will not try to influence you in any way possible to continue to drag you away from the church!
That gap is going to be filled one way or another– don't give Satan a chance!! We must not abandon the church if we are to persevere in the faith. We must keep going to keep ourselves going! The church is God's gift to us — each one of us — not that we can have a perfect experience there, but because we are weak, and we need the body of Christ!! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
September 1, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship at Enon!
Scripture is not meant to be rushed through, but instead to be deeply thought upon, savored, and cherished. While studying the Word it is also helpful to remember a few other details as well. For example, it is important to remember who wrote the passage of Scripture you are reading, as well as who the book was originally intended for. It is also important to remember the overall purpose or main idea of that particular book of the Bible.
Here are a few examples: Genesis is about who God is and who we are in light of Him. Luke is about a savior who came to seek and save the lost. Acts is about the Spirit empowered church fulfilling its mission. One more good example, to which I want to make a point, is Hebrews. The book of Hebrews is about faith in chapter 11. It is also about the power of God's word. In chapter 4 Hebrews is about continuing in faith because Jesus is "better." He is better than Moses, better than angels. He is better than Melchizedek. And because He is, we should continue in faith.
In Hebrews 10, we find a very simple command, yet one that is being abandoned rapidly today. It reads: Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together, as the manner of some is, but extorting one another, and so much the more, as ye see that day approaching. What is the modern-day translation of this passage–Don't stop going to church!!
Wandering from the church leads to wandering from the faith. Sounds kind of extreme, doesn't it? After all, we all have competing priorities. We have work, travel, sports, dance recitals, lake trips, and all the rest. Surely it doesn't mean I'm wandering from the faith because my church attendance has started to wane? Perhaps it does, and we must be careful not to wander away from our faith.
You see, church is here to remind us. All through Scripture, you find God telling His people, "remember;" "remember the Sabbath," "remember, I am with you."
These are commands, not suggestions and they come because we are by nature forgetful people. We must be reminded daily of how important God is in our lives!!
I will finish the second part of this article in next week's bulletin as we look at the importance of church attendance. Until then, may the Lord richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
August 25, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon!
Americans tend to think bigger is better. The bigger the business, brand or fan base, the more successful the organization, product, or team must be. On the flip side, we tend to think of small businesses or organizations as being insignificant or unsuccessful. And this mentality has seeped into the thought process of the American churchgoer as well. We are inclined to view large and megachurches as successful and important, and smaller churches as unsuccessful and unimportant. It all comes down to how we define success!
Being in the pastor's circle for quite some time now, I've often heard church leaders ask each other, "How many do you run?" We want to know if this is a pastor of a large, medium, or small church, because the thinking goes – "the larger the church, the more significant the pastor must be." Over time, such thinking has affected how we ultimately define success.
However, the Bible has a much different definition of success!! From God's perspective, success is being faithful to His plan and call!Faithfulness to His plan and call is our responsibility. Fruitfulness is God's responsibility. We are never in charge of the production or increase of the fruit, but of laying the groundwork for the fruit. Paul addressed this principle when he wrote, I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase (I Cor. 3:6).
Defining success is so important! If you start with the wrong definition, you end up at the wrong destination! While numbers may impress others, they don't impress God!! What impresses Him?? Faithfulness!! Jesus tells us so in the parable of the talents when he says, Well done my good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Instead of focusing on the size of our churches, we must continue focusing on faithfulness!!
Throughout the New Testament, we see Jesus frequently pointing out the huge impact small things can have–like a mustard seed! If Jesus understands the significance of a mustard seed, there is no denying the significance He places on the small church. We have heard the statement, "Dynamite comes in small packages." Only being true to what it is can dynamite make a big impact. The same is true for the small church. When they are true to what they are and what they have been called to do, they too can make a big impact!! The most successful church is the church that is focused on its faithfulness to God. Church, let us be faithful to the plan and call of our Lord!! May He richly bless each one here today!!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
August 18, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! I have a question for you to ponder on this morning! Why don't Christians pray? I'm not talking about praying around the dinner table or at church or on special occasions. I'm talking about real prayer — prayer that stretches itself out foward in intense desire and expectation!! This kind of prayer is not brought forth from tradition but by a hungering heart that says as Jacob said, "I will not let you go until you bless me.
Among professing Christians, this kind of prayer has always been scarce. We talk about prayer, preach about prayer, read books about prayer — yet we still don't pray beyond simply asking God to supply our needs. The reason for our prayerlessness has been often charged to laziness, but I believe there is a deeper reason. I am convinced that one of the major killers of prayer among the people of God is a problem of unbelief! In many cases, Christians just don't believe that the simple act of making a request of their Father in Heaven can really make a difference in their lives! If they had any clue that major blessings could be theirs just for the asking, they would be praying up a storm!!
We are constantly seeking revival, but it will not come until God's people pray!! Every major revival that has occurred throughout the world has begun because God's people got serious with prayer!! Luke seemed to understand this principle very well in the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, where much emphasis was put on prayer and on the Holy Spirit. It was Luke that tells us what Jesus was doing at His baptism: "Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, and the heaven was opened."(Luke 3:21). Several things were happing during this event: Jesus was praying, the heavens were opened, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus, and the Father endorsed Him. This shows us the connection between prayer and the descent of the Holy Spirit!
All throughout the book of Acts, we find that prayer precedes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit!! We need this type of praying!!! Yes, the world is growing darker, but the Holy Spirit has not gone into retirement! The Bible gives no indication that the whole world will be converted to Christ before He comes, but it does tell us that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout to all the nations. If that gospel is to have a chance to succeed, it must be accompanied by the prayers of the children of God!!
Let us join our voices in prayer for our churches, our communities, our families, and our nation, crying out to God for a great spiritual awakening as we await the glorious appearing of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
August 11, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon!
When we look at the life and teaching ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, we see what a masterful leader He was. He was intentional and purposeful in His teaching and leading. When we think of His influence, and how His message continues to grow two thousand years and millions of followers later, we are in awe because He did not do the successful, popular, or inspiring things. He did not seek fame. He did not use His power over others or try to establish an empire on earth. He did not have social media or the benefits of technology.
Jesus was always true to His teachings even when it was something His audience did not want to hear. He would say. things like: Anyone who loves his mother or father, or son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me (Matt 10:37). Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27).
Simply put, Jesus did not "go big!" Often times when he would draw a crowd or perform a miracle, he would draw away for times of rest and renewal with the Father. Through His earthly ministry, Jesus modeled the way for His disciples to live. He modeled that the way up is to go down–become meek and humble! John says, He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30). Jesus, Himself taught that, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last (Matt 20:16).
Jesus made a significant impact by making a small imprint!! The gospels reveal that He did not spend His time chasing the crowds. Jesus invested the most of His time with a small group of people- mainly 12 disciples and a small group of women who supported His ministry. Whatever your position is with His church, there are some ways you can also lead like Jesus
First, you can make the commitment to be a mentor. Invest in a small group, which may be only one person, and commit to teach and disciple them in a closer walk with the Lord. Next, you can be a living Word to people. Jesus was the Living Word- the Word in flesh. He understood that not only did the people need the truth of His word, they also needed a relationship– His presence! People need our presence!! Truly bear that burden with them!!
Finally, we can teach spiritual disciplines. The disciples asked Jesus to, teach us how to pray. It's easy to assume that people understand the basics when they come to church - many do not!! We need to ask the Lord continually for these basics - teach us how to love — teach us how to forgive — teach us how to study your Word — teach us how to live like Christ!!
Church, we do not need to be a "mega" church to make a "mega" impact for Christ. It's not quantity the Lord wants, it's quality!! Let's give it our all for Him, He gave His all for us!!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
August 4, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon!
When anyone considers the evidence and authenticity of the Word of God, the question arises, "Why do so many work so hard to try and discredit this wonderful book?" After all, it contains the greatest news given to man: That God loves man and sent His Son to die in our place and that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life!! For the Christian, the Bible is loaded full of positive truths–God loves us, He wants to help us in our troubles, answer our prayers, defends us against evil, and promises us life with Him in Heaven with no more pain, sorrow or death!! All creation testifies to the creativity and love of God!! Transformed lives all over the world testify to the power of Jesus Christ to give man a new heart and to put a new Spirit within him!!
The supernatural growth of the church, and the intense devotion to Christ by the early Christians, demonstrate the power of Christ's resurrection upon the minds and hearts of the believers! So why do so many have such a problem with accepting the Bible as the inspired Word of God? Many reject the Bible for what they claim as 'intellectual reasons." They say, "I just can't believe in such a simplistic religion." Or, "I have to have something that satisfies my mind and soul." They may have a problem with evolution vs. creation, or the idea of heaven and hell. In their own minds, they feel they have an intellectual problem with the gospel.
However, Jesus assures us that the truth is far simpler! In one of the most profound declarations in the Bible, Jesus gives us the real reason why people refuse to believe in Him. In the Gospel of John 3:19-20 Jesus says: And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world; and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil, hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. Jesus assures us in this passage that the real reason people don't immediately come to Him is because they are still clinging to their lives of sin and selfishness!! The last thing they would want is the Bible to be right after all, thus meaning they would need to repent of their sin, turn to Christ in childlike faith, and surrender fully their lives to God. Church, we need to be so thankful for the drawing power of the Holy Spirit that brings us to the saving grace of God!!! Otherwise, we too would be in this same mind as the world!!
Thank God for His Book!!! Thank God for His Blood!!! Thank God we are Bought!!! Thank God for His Blessed Hope!!! He is a God of truth on whom we can depend!! May He richly bless each one here today!!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
July 28, 2019
Good morning and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon!
There are some primary reasons that we relate to one another in the body of Christ, rather than just living out our faith as privately as individuals. One main reason is discipleship. The word disciple means "follower." In the field of medicine, the term is not called discipleship but rather residency. Residents learn the practice of medicine by observing and imitating a more experienced doctor. Another example would be a beginning electrician or plumber which would be called an apprentice. They would become a disciple of an experienced plumber or electrician.
The word disciple is used in the Gospels and in Acts to refer to the Twelve — the dozen men whom Jesus selected to travel with Him; those whom He chose to teach and train personally. Disciple, in the Bible as a synonym for Christian. It means "follower" or "student."
So, when we refer Christians as disciples, we are identifying them as followers of Jesus Christ, as students of His life teachings. But there is something more. The word disciple also carries the idea of imitation.
So, disciples of Jesus Christ are those that are seeking, not just to understand Christianity in an intellectual sense, but who are seeking to be more like Jesus. Disciples of Christ are people who are modeling their lives, who are walking according to the example He gave us. In Matthew 16:24, Jesus said to his disciples, if anyone wishes to come after me, he must take up his cross and follow me. When Jesus said that we should "follow" Him, he wasn't talking about literally strapping on a pair of sandals and walking with Him along the dusty roads of Palestine (as great as that would be!). No, He meant that we should follow His example; that we should live the way He lived; that we should obey His commands; listen to His teachings; and look to Him as our teacher and guide. That is what it means to "follow," that is what it means to be a disciple, and that is what it means to be a Christian!
What role does the church play in this process? For the answer to that question, we must listen to what Paul says: Therefore, I exhort you to be imitators of me (I Corinthians 4:16). Paul also tells us to: Join others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you (Philippians 3:17). Sounds like Paul was almost high on himself–until you find that He was simply exhorting others to follow Christ. He says: Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ (! Corinthians 11:1).
For us to be able to make disciples of Christ, we must be disciples of Christ!! Living our lives in trust and obedience to the Risen Savior so that those all around may know that He is Lord of our lives!! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
July 21, 2019
Good morning and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! Once again, it is time to go back to youth camp! We are certainly looking forward to a great week ahead and the presence of the Holy Spirit during this week.
In the ninth chapter of the book of Mark, we find the story of a man bringing his son to Jesus to be healed of a demonic spirit. This was a young teenage boy whom Jesus cast the demon from. Verse 27 tells us that Jesus "took him by the hand, lifted him up, and the boy arose." The key to this passage, however, is found in verses 36-37 in which the Bible says, "And Jesus took a child and set him in the midst of them: and when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them, "Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me." It is a fact that Jesus paid a great deal of attention to children, teenagers, and young people in general. You find this truth over and over as you read through the four Gospels.
We have a tendency to believe that those who followed Christ during His ministry were of old age. That was not the case! Most who followed Christ were quite young. Peter was about thirty. The rest of the Disciples were in the early to mid-twenties except for the Apostle John, who was a teenager when he first came to Christ. It is a fact that 90% of all conversions to Christ occur before the age of 25. The body of Christ has always centered on young people. That's the reason we go to youth camps, have youth revivals, and have vacation Bible schools–it is to reach our young people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We cannot put enough emphasis on reaching our younger generation!!
Let us all be praying to see a revival among our young people!! In this day we live in, with crime rates constantly rising, ramped drug use, and what the Bible calls — haters of good and lovers of evil, we need a revival of our young people!!
Many years ago, a revival known as "The First Great Awakening", helped shape the character of early America and helped change the course of history in the mid-eighteenth century. This great revival began among the young people of Jonathan Edwards' church- and it spread around the whole world!! From Edwards' church in New England- across America- and across the ocean to England, and around the world!! But it began with a group of children, teenagers, and young adults in Jonathan Edwards' church. Another great revival in Cambuslang Scotland began in a prayer meeting of young girls between the ages of 10 to 16. Thousands of people became Christians before this revival was over!!
So what is the point with all these statistics?? It is to remind us how important each and every child is that comes through our doors here at Enon, or crosses our path in our everyday lives!! We could be investing in the next great revival, or the next great evangelist, or a missionary to carry on with the Great Commission. May the Lord richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
July 14, 2019
Good morning and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! Over the past three weeks, we have been looking at "living for Christ in the End Times." We have already listed six guidelines for living in the End Times. These include:
- Order your priorities — put God first.
- Stand on the Word.
- Believe in the power of God.
- Persist in prayer.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit.
- Practice tough faith.
Today I want to give you the final two guidelines in this series. The next guideline is to "keep an eternal perspective." We are to be in the world but not of this world (John 17:11,16). It is so easy to get our eyes off the Lord and focus instead upon the world in which we live. The demands are so pressing, and one of the greatest of those demands is that we conform to the world–to the world's language, dress, entertainment, and values. That is why we are constantly exhorted in Scripture to consider ourselves as aliens, exiles, and strangers who are just passing through this world (Hebrews 11:13 & I Peter 2:11). We are told to set our minds on things above, not on the things of this earth (Colossians 3:2). And we are warned never to fall in love with the world or grow comfortable in it (Romans 12:2).
In fact, Jesus said we are to hate our life in this world (John 12:25). What does it mean to hate the world? It means to hate the evil world system that prevails in society. We are to hate a system that glorifies violence and immorality and which depreciates the value of life. We are to live yearning for the day when Jesus will burst from the heavens to bring peace, righteousness, and justice to the earth!!
This brings us to the final guideline I would like to emphasize regarding how to live for Jesus in the end times. The Bible tells us point blank that we are to live looking for Jesus (Titus 2: 13). Most Christians are so caught up in the world that they live thinking about everything else but the return of Jesus. This is a sad state of affairs because the return of Jesus is our Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13). And His return is imminent!! Another problem is that most Christians know very little about Bible prophecy and they cannot get excited about the Lord's return. How can one get excited about an event they know nothing about?
You see, when a person comes to truly believe that Jesus is returning and may return at any moment, that person will be motivated to serve the Lord in a greater capacity! Paul provides us with a spiritual mirror for end time living. He says we are to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age, looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (Titus 2: 12-13).
May we put all these guidelines into practice as we eagerly await the return of our wonderful Savior!! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
July 7, 2019
Good morning and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon!
Over the past two weeks, we have been looking at living for Christ in the end times and how this is becoming increasingly more difficult as the days go by. We are looking at guidelines that we must put in place for living in these last days. Some of the guidelines we previously listed are:
- Order your priorities — put God first.
- Stand on the Word.
- Believe in the power of our Almighty God.
- Persist in prayer.
Another guideline we must have is to "Rely on the Holy Spirit." Many Christians seem to be afraid of the Holy Spirit mainly due to a lack of knowledge of the Spirit. Many tend to write off the Holy Spirit as some kind of "impersonal force" — like "the force" in Star Wars. We must understand that the Holy Spirit is a person! He is the supernatural presence of God in the world today!! He performs a dual role. For the unbeliever, He Is God's Evangelist. He is the One who works on human hearts to draw them to the Cross in repentance.
No one is saved apart from the drawing of the Spirit (John 6:44). To the believer, the Holy Spirit is God's indwelling presence to provide us with power and guidance. He is our Enabler! He is also God's Potter, for one of His basic responsibilities is to shape believers more fully into the image of Jesus. We cannot effectively serve God in our own power. We must rely on the power of the Holy Spirit who resides within us.
The Word calls us to be "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18). This can only happen if we allow the Spirit to become Lord of our lives. Most of us are content to let the Spirit be "resident" in our lives. He does not want to simply be a "resident"–He desires to be "president!!" A sixth guideline to follow is to "practice tough faith." Faith comes easily when everything is going smoothly. When there is good health and prosperity, it is easy to praise the Lord. The test of faith comes when the circumstances of life turn sour.
God has not promised believers a rose garden, We live in a fallen world. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. It is easy for the righteous to grow discouraged. This calls for tough faith! The kind of faith that is not dependent on circumstances. It's the kind of faith that hangs in there when the going gets tough because of a confident belief that "all things work together for good to them that love the Lord" (Rom 8: 28). God doesn't promise us that we will be immune from suffering but He does promise us that He will be there to walk through the trials with us!! He promises to be with us when we "pass through the waters" and "walk through the fire" (Isa. 43:2).
What is the quality of your faith? When life turns sour do you turn to God, or do you turn "on" Him and question Him? Let us hold fast to the promises of God's Word and start claiming them in prayer when faced with the challenges of life! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
June 30, 2019
Good morning and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! I want to say "Thank You" to everyone that helped this past week with the Merrill family. Whether it was bringing food, visiting, or praying; all your efforts are so very much appreciated and I know the family was blessed because of it!! Yesterday was a tough day for all involved, and I am so thankful for all the prayers for the funeral service. I know of at least two souls that accepted the Lord at the end of the service–Praise the Lord!! Let's continue to keep this family in our prayers!
Last week we began talking about "living for Christ in the last days." Paul prophesied that people will be "haters of good" and that they will be "brutal and reckless," reviling those who stand for righteousness (II Timothy 3:2-4). We began to look at some guidelines for our lives in these last days. We listed the first two which are: First, order your priorities — putting God first. Second, stand on the Word–we must study and_ know the Word so we are not deceived by the many false doctrines and worldly religious systems. A third guideline is to "Believe in the Power of God."
There is no way we can cope with the evil of end time society within our own strength! Anyone who tries to do so will be defeated. Our only hope is to turn to a God who is alive and well, who is still on the throne, who hears and answers our prayers, and who still performs miracles!! We must realize that we can limit God with our unbelief. God does not force Himself upon us. If we want to try to cope on our own, He will let us! He responds, however, when we reach out to Him in faith (James 1:6). A fourth guideline we must follow is: Persist in Prayer.
One of the greatest blessings God has given us is "supernatural" communication. God cares for us personally (1 Peter 5:7) and He desires to communicate with us (James 4:8). Because He loves us, He earnestly desires our fellowship (John 4:23). The tragedy is that most professing Christians seem to turn to prayer as a last resort–only when all else has failed and the situation has become desperate!
The Bible says: we do not have because we do not ask (James 4:2) How many blessings of God have you left on the table because you tried to handle your problems yourself? The Bible also says that the prayers of a righteous man availeth much. This Is not interpreted to mean that the power of our prayers depends on our righteousness! If you are truly born again, then you are a righteous person because you are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 61:10-11).
Sometimes we can be reluctant to seek God in prayer due to pride, and thus the scriptures continually exhort us to humble ourselves (I Peter 5:6). In these end times we live in, let us continue to pray without ceasing and seek the power of our almighty God!! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
June 23, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon!
The Bible clearly teaches that society will degenerate in the end times becoming as evil as it was in the days of Noah (Matt 24: 37-39). The apostle Paul, speaking as a prophet, said that society would descend into a black pit of immorality, violence, and paganism (II Tim 3:1-5). He asserts that men will become lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure. People will be boastful, arrogant, and unholy, and children will be disobedient to parents. This passage of scripture sounds like the evening news!! We should be deeply concerned over these developments, not only because we are watching the destruction of our nation, but because both Jesus and Paul prophesied that when these things occur the Church will come under attack and individual Christians will be persecuted. Jesus said that when lawlessness increases, "most people's love will grow cold (Matt 24:12). He stated that in this hostile atmosphere, many professing Christians will "fall away" and will proceed to cooperate in the persecution of their former brothers and sisters in Christ (Matt 24:10).
Paul indicates the same idea when he says that people will be "haters of good" and that they therefore will be "brutal" and "reckless" to those who stand for righteousness (II Tim 2:3-4). We are watching these prophecies come true today before our very eyes, both here in America and around the world. As our culture has paginated and secularized; Christianity, the Church, and Christians have come under increasing attacks. These attacks are only going to intensify, and it is going to come increasingly difficult for Christians to stand for righteousness.
Jobs will be lost; careers will be destroyed. Christians will even be sent to prison for speaking out against evils like homosexuality because such announcements will be labeled as "hate crimes." What then are those of us who love Jesus to do as we face the rising wave of ridicule, harassment, and persecution for our faith? How shall we live for Christ in the end times?
Well there are a few guidelines we must go by in our lives. First, we must "order our priorities." The starting point is to review your priorities and make sure God is first in your life. Most Christians have allowed their priorities to get very mixed up. Usually, job or career is first, family is second, and God is third or even fourth behind some obsession. God and His will for your life must be first! Second, we must stand upon the Word. The Bible tells us the end times will be an age of deception. Many are being bombarded by false religions or cults like the New Age Movement. We must know the Word!! An old saying goes, "you must stand for something or you will fall for everything." Let's stand for the Word!!
We will continue on how to live for Christ in the end times next week. Until then, may the Lord richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
June 16, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! Happy Father's Day to all our Dads today!!
Everywhere you look, you see a multitude of advertisements for what the best Father's Day gift would be. I don't know about you, but the thing I most desire on Father's Day is to have some memorable time with my family, relax, and be reminded of the incredible honor and blessing it is to be a "Dad!!"
There was a story told about a young boy who had been invited to a friend's birthday party. He was so excited and began counting down days until the party. But the morning of the party, he was devastated when he woke up and found a blizzard had struck their little town. The snow was falling in wet, heavy flakes, and the wind was howling. "I don't think you should go to the party," the father said. The little boy was now so disappointed. He began to beg his father to be allowed to go to the party. Finally, much to his surprise, his dad said, "All right, you can go to the party." The little boy bundled up in his hat and coat and mittens and started down the street to his friend's house. When he got to the door of his friend's house, he turned around and saw his dad turning to walk back home . It was then, he realized his dad had been walking behind him the entire way ensuring he was safe. What a picture of our Heavenly Father!!
There may be times that we seem all alone, but in truth we are always surrounded by the love and goodness of the heavenly Father!! As children of God, there is never a time we are on our own!! II Timothy 2:13 says: "He abideth faithful!!" What a picture also for all fathers! We are to be in constant watch over the family God has blessed us with!! The book of Psalms tells us; Blessed is the man who fears the Lord and who greatly delights in His commandments. His offspring will be mighty in the land. The generation of the upright will be blessed. He is gracious, compassionate, and righteous. He does not fear bad news: he confidently trusts the Lord to care for them. He is confident and fearless.
Dad's, that is our top priority–Serve the Lord!!! Serving the Lord involves guiding our children in the right path! Psalms 127 also tells us: Children are a heritage from the Lord, a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior so are children of the youth. Happy is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts his accusers at the city gates.
You see Dads, we have an awesome responsibility given by God Himself to care for our families. However, with that responsibility comes the many blessings and joys that being a dad will bring!! May we all strive to be Christ like fathers to our families–loving, guiding, and sacrificing! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
June 9, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship at Enon! A controversy has broken out among Evangelicals over the past several years concerning the validity of modern, conservative translations of the Bible such as the New American Standard (NASB), the New International Version (NIV), and the New King James Version (NKJV).
This controversy was ignited in part by a book entitled "New Age Bible Versions," in which the author claims that the King James Version is the one and only pure translation and that all new translations which have flooded the market are part of a Satanic, New Age conspiracy to undermine the deity of Jesus and the credibility of God's Word. This book unleashed attacks upon godly evangelical scholars who labored very hard to produce the modern versions, not to undermine the Word, but to make it more understandable to the average reader.
Many foolish thoughts and ideas have been given in this book and others that are misrepresentations or not fact based concerning modern translations of the Bible. I have had the question asked of me, "Why should we have modern translations, and are they good?" I can say that the King James Version does not need to be defended. It has served the English-speaking peoples of the world for over 300 years. But with the advent of the 20th century, it became increasingly clear that a new English translation was needed.
This was due to several factors, none of which were due to the New Age conspiracy! For one thing, many Greek manuscripts of the New Testament had been discovered that were much older than the ones the King James were based on. Also, thousands of other Greek language manuscripts dating from the first century had also been discovered, thus giving scholars a much better understanding of the meanings and nuances of Greek words at the time the New Testament was written.
Perhaps most important was the fact that the English language has changed drastically over the last 300 years since the 1611 King James Version was produced. Reading King James English; was becoming more difficult for people to read. Many words had changed in their meaning, and some had come to mean the exact opposite of the original meaning. Thus, modern translations have been given to provide a more accurate and readable translation.
I use the King James version when preaching here at Enon because it is good to have everyone on the same page reading the same wording. However, when I study, I absolutely enjoy using other translations to help in clarifying the Word. If you have any questions or concerns about the different translations, please ask questions and research them!!
There are some good versions and some "perversions!!" The main thing is to please "READ THE WORD!!" Study to show thyself approved… (II Tim 2:15). Lett us all Read His Word daily, ask the Holy Spirit to guide us, and enjoy fellowship with the Lord in His Word. May He richly bless each one here today!!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
June 2, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship at Enon! Christians are admonished throughout Scripture to be virtuous. II Peter 1:5-7 tells us: "Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self- control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love."
Paul lists a similar list of virtues in Galatians that we refer to as "the fruit of the Spirit." Needless to say, virtues are supposed to be character traits that are good. The dictionary defines a virtue as "a characteristic of excellence or goodness." But the number one virtue being touted in America today is anything but good. It threatens to destroy America and the Church. What is that virtue? Just ask any of our children, because it is being hammered into their heads on a daily basis in our public school systems and college campuses. That virtue is— "tolerance." How can something that seems so good be so bad?
After all, isn't tolerance a necessary virtue to prevent prejudice and hatred? The problem lies in that the traditional concept of tolerance the kind adults in America grew up with- has been redefined into moral perversion. The tolerance we grew up with was the kind that respected differing viewpoints. It was the idea of treating with respect those who might disagree with us on fundamental concepts of life. The traditional concept of tolerance produced the attitude of freedom of diversity–a freedom that made it possible for Protestants, Catholics, and Jews to live together in peace. However, the traditional concept of tolerance has been replaced by the "New Tolerance" that is being taught to our kids today.
This "New Tolerance" demands not only respect but also endorsement and praise. Thus it is no longer sufficient for us to simply tolerate the homosexual lifestyle, but we are to endorse it and praise it as well along with any other sinful lifestyle as well. This new form of tolerance is really no virtue at all because it is based on a lie!!
This lie has a foundation that says all beliefs, values, and lifestyles are equally valid. The real root of the problem with this "new tolerance" is the modern society's rejection of God. If there is no God, then there are no standards. This is the reason the Ten Commandments are hated so much and are constantly under fire from the worldly crowd!
The Bible tells us in Psalms 97:10; Hate evil, you who love the Lord. Romans 12: 9 also tells us; Abhor evil, cling to what is good. As these scriptures clearly teach, we must boldly tell the world there is a God who hates sin and that He hates it so much that He sent His Only Son to die for our sins that we might be reconciled to the Father!!
The Lord is soon returning and may we boldly stand for His truth in these last days!! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
May 26, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship at Enon! This past week, a young man, and current member of our armed forces made the comment on Facebook; "Before we throw the burgers on the grill, head to the lake and enjoy a long weekend, let's remember the reason behind this weekend. It's about the sacrifice men and women made and gave their lives for you and me. Just remember that before you enjoy this weekend." He is right!! Many people consider this just another long weekend without one hint of thankfulness for those that have fought and died to give us our freedoms!!
Former President Reagan once said, "I don't have to tell you how fragile this precious gift of freedom is. Every time we hear, watch, or read the news; we are reminded that liberty is a rare commodity in this world." General Norman Schwarzkopf stated, "It doesn't take a hero to order men into battle, it takes a hero to be one of those who goes into battle." May we never take lightly the cost of our freedom and those who have given their all to preserve it!!
Over the past few weeks, we have been looking at the signs of the Lord's soon return. This week, I want to give you the two key prophecies that relate the return of Jesus to events that have occurred in Jewish history since 1948. These two clearly establish the period in which we are living as the season of the Lord's return!! The first is the re-establishment of the state of Israel which occurred on May 14, 1948. Jesus singled out this event as the one that would signal His return. His prophecy is contained in the fig tree parable (Matt. 24:32-35). The day before He delivered this parable, He put a curse on a barren fig tree, causing it to wither. This was symbolic prophecy that God would soon pour out His wrath upon the Jewish people because of their spiritual barrenness in rejecting His Son. The next day, Jesus reminded His disciples of the fig tree. He said to watch for it to bloom again. In other words, He was saying to watch for the rebirth of Israel. He indicated when the fig tree (lsrael) blooms again, He would be at the gates of Heaven, ready to return (Matthew 24:33).
Equally significant, Jesus also said, "Truly this generation will not pass away until all these things take place." Church, we are that generation!! The fig tree has blossomed!! Jesus is at the gates!!! The second key event was prophesied by Jesus in Luke 21:24- it reads; The Jews will fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive to all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
The first half of this prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD when Rome conquered the Jews and they were scattered among the nations. Jerusalem m remained under Gentile occupation for 1897 years until June 7, 1967 when Israel won the city back during the Six Day War. The Jewish occupation of Jerusalem is proof positive that we are living in the season of the Lord's return!!! Until that day, let's keep on serving our wonderful Lord!! He is coming soon!!! May He richly bless each one here today.
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
May 19, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! Over the past few weeks we have been looking at the "signs" of the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Today I would like to look at what I feel is the key to the Lord's eminent return, and that is the prophetic signs dealing with the nation of Israel. The most repeated prophecy in the Old Testament is the prediction that the Jewish people will be gathered from "the four corners of the earth" in the end times (Isaiah 11:10-12).
The Bible states that a consequence of this gathering will be the reestablishment of the state of Israel (Isaiah 66:7-8). The Scriptures say that once the Jews are back in the land, the land itself will experience a miracle of reclamation (Isaiah 35). The desert will bloom, and the people will exclaim, "The desolate land has become like the Garden of Eden"(Ezekiel 36:35). Another end time miracle will be the revival of the Hebrew language (Zephaniah 3:9).
Many people do not realize that when the Jews were dispersed from the land in 70 AD, that they ceased from speaking the original Hebrew language. Other significant signs of Israel that we are told to watch for in the end times include the re-occupation of Israel (Luke 21:24), the resurgence of Israel military strength (Zechariah 12:6), and the re focusing of world politics on Israel (Zechariah 12:3).
All these signs have been fulfilled in this century. The nation has been reestablished, the nation has been reclaimed, the land is now one of the top agriculture areas in the world, the ancient language has been revived, the Jews are back in Jerusalem, and Israel is a main focal point of world politics.
Jesus says in Luke 21:28 that when these signs begin to happen, we should "look up and lift up our heads" because "our redemption draweth nigh!!!"
The most important signs are the ones that relate to Israel because God uses the Jews throughout scripture as His prophetic time clock. By this I mean that very often when the Lord is revealing an important event that will take place in the future, He will point to the Jewish people and state that when a certain thing happens to them, the important event will also occur.
A good example of this principle can be found in Daniel 9 in the "Seventy Weeks of Years" prophecy. The prophet said to watch for a decree to rebuild Jerusalem and that the Messiah would come 69 weeks of years (483 years) after that decree. Of course, the last week (7 years) deals with the return of the Lord and the beginning of the Tribulation—Church, this time is fast approaching and could be any day!!!
There are two key prophecies that relate the return of Jesus to events that have occurred in Jewish history since 1948. These two events clearly established the period in which we are now living as the season of the Lord's return.
We will look at those two key prophecies next week!! Until then, Look Up and Lift Up Your Heads, Because Our Redemption Draweth Nigh!!!! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
May 12, 2019
Good morning and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! Happy Mother's Day to all our Moms today!! I want to share an excerpt that was derived from a Paul Harvey show many years ago as he was talking about the subject, "So God made a farmer!" An unnamed writer used this to write "So God made a Mother." It reads: And on the 6th day, God looked down on Adam in His planned paradise and said, "I need a nurturer." So, God made a mother.
God said, "I need someone who feels deeply and work fiercely, whose tears flow just as abundantly as their laughter, whose heart is as warm as their ability to guide and set limits. I need someone whose influence on those that they nurture is eternal." So, God made a Mother.
God said, "I need someone who can hear a sneeze through closed doors, in the middle of the night, 3 bedrooms away while daddy snores next to her. I need someone who can kiss the boo boos scare the monsters away under the bed, clean up the middle-of-the-night accidents, and live off four hours of 'interrupted' sleep." So, God made a Mother!
God said, "I need someone who can ride the roller coaster of anxiety, hope, fear, and pride with an outward appearance of calm assurance as she sends her child off to the first day of school. l needs someone to teach a child how to tie their shoes, make new friends, handle disappointments, shop for a prom dress or drive a stick shift. And when that child turns 18, I need someone to ride that roller coaster of anxiety, hope, fear, and pride again as she sends her child away to college with the same calm confident outside exterior." So, God made a Mother!
God said, "I need someone who is willing to jump in a car and drive children to school, sports practices, and piano lessons on a daily basis. I need someone who can run to the grocery store multiple times a day- because someone forgot to add something to the list! I need someone who can take the animals to the vet, pick up the prescriptions, and make sure dinner is on the table for the family to eat." So, God created a Mother!
God said, "I need someone who can build confidence, encourage, and lead their children down the correct path. Someone who can always be a shoulder to lean on, and always be ready to give advice for any situation." So, God created a Mother.
And finally, "someone to share the love of His Son with their children. Someone who could teach His principles and ways so that when they grow old- they won't depart from them." So, God created a Mother!!
May I say to all the mothers here today that you have one of the most important-if not "the" most important jobs in this world-being a Mom!! I am so thankful for all our Mothers here at Enon and the godly influence you have on our children. May the Lord continue to use each one of you to be that godly influence for the generations to come! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
May 5, 2019
Good morning and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enonl Over the past couple of weeks, we have been looking at the signs of the imminent return of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us that there will be a number of signs indicating the season of His return. Of course, no one except the Father knows the exact day and time of His return, but we will recognize the closeness of the hour by the signs!
We have looked at the signs of nature and society as well as the spiritual signs. This week I want us to examine more signs of His return. The Word of God shows us that there will be "signs of technology" in the end times. Daniel 12:4 tells us that there will be an "explosion" of knowledge and that people will move about quickly in the last days.
There are many Bible prophecies that cannot be understood apart from modern technology. For example, how can the whole world look upon the bodies of the two Great Witnesses slain in the streets of Jerusalem (Rev. 11:8-9)? Modern television satellite technology now makes this an easy reality. How can the False Prophet build an image of the Anti-Christ that appears to be alive (Rev. 13:15)? With today's science and technology, holograms and robotics can make this happen.
Jesus said that the Tribulation would be so terrible that all life on earth would cease to exist lest He cut the period short (Matt. 24:21-22). We now have that threat in nuclear weapons. Another possible reference to this nuclear threat is contained in Luke's statement that men in the end times will "faint from fear" because the "powers of the heavens will be shaken" (Luke 21″26).
Along with the signs of technology, we also see the "signs of world politics." The Bible prophesies that there will be a certain pattern of world politics that will characterize the end times political map. The focus will be the re established state of Israel (Zechariah 12:2-3). It will be besieged by a menacing nation from "the remote parts of the north" — the nation of Rosh, or modem day Russia (Ezekiel 38:2,6).
There will be a threatening nation to the east of Israel that will be capable of a 200-million-man army - China (Rev 9:13-16). For the first time in history, this population is large enough to form this army. A third source of danger to Israel will be the Arab nations that immediately surround it. They will covet the land and will try to take it from the• Jews (Ezekiel 35:10, 36:2).
Another key player on the world political scene will be the coalition of the European nations centered in the area of the old Roman empire (Dan. 2:41-44; 7:7-24) (Rev 17:12-13). This will be the political base for the rise of the Antichrist and the creation of his worldwide kingdom (Daniel 7:8). Other political signs include wars, civil wars, and international terrorism and lawlessness (Matt 24:6,7,12).
Next week we will look into what I consider the greatest sign — the nation of Israel!! The signs are here!! The Lord is soon returning!! Are you ready?? May He richly bless each one here today! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
April 28, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship at Enon! Over the past couple of weeks, we have been looking at the signs of the Lord's return–and it won't be long!! Last week we looked at signs of nature and the signs of society. Both of these are happening before are very eyes and assure us of the "last days" we are living in.
This week, I want us to look into a couple more of these signs. Another sign we need to watch for is the "spiritual sign." There are both positive and negative spiritual signs we are to watch for. The negative ones include the appearance of false Christ's and their cults (Matthew 24: 5,11,24), the apostasy of the church (2 Thess. 2:3), an outbreak in Satanism (1 Timothy 1:4), and the persecution of faithful Christians (Matthew 24:9).
The negative signs began to appear in the mid-19th century when the cults started forming. First came the Mormons, then the Jehovah's Witnesses, then a great variety of spiritualist groups such as the Church of Scientology, and the Unity Church.
The apostasy of the mainline Christian denominations began in the 1920's when the German school of higher criticism invaded American seminaries and undermined the authority of the Holy Scriptures, teaching the Bible was man's search for God rather than God's revelation to man.
During the 1960's, Satanism exploded on the American scene and has since been exported worldwide through American movies, books, and television programs. Dabbling in the occult has become commonplace in the form of astrology, numerology, transcendental meditation and channeling. All of these have consummated into the appearance of the New Age Movement with its teaching that man is God. As society has secularized, "true Christianity" has come under intense attack.
Throughout the world, we are seeing more and more attacks against Christianity. There are some positive spiritual signs and they are: The proclamation of the Gospel to the entire world (Matthew24:14), a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-32), and spiritual illumination to understand prophecies that have been "sealed up" until the end times (Daniel 12:4,9).
Through the use of modern technology, the Gospel has been proclaimed throughout the world in this century, and the Bible has been translated into every major language. The great end time outpouring of the Holy Spirit has begun. Joel called it "the latter rain" (Joel 2:23), and he said it would occur after the Jews returned to their land.
The State of Israel was re-established in May 1948!! I find it amazing that the very next year God would anoint a ministry that would impact the world for Christ–the Billy Graham crusades. Thousands upon thousands accepted Christ through this ministry and many other anointed ministries as well. The spiritual signs are here!!! Christ's return is fast approaching–quite possibly today!! Are you ready? May He richly bless each one here today. -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
April 21, 2019
Good morning and welcome to Resurrection Day Service at Enon!! Death, Hell, and the Grave have been defeated!! He has risen!! And he is ALIVE!! Because He lives-we live!! May we all give praise and thanks to the risen Savior today and every day!!
Over the last couple of weeks, we have been looking at the return of the Lord Jesus Christ and the signs of His return. The first sign we need to look at is the "sign of nature." We are told to watch for earthquakes, famine, pestilence, and signs in the heavens. Many never pay attention to these signs because they say, "there have always been natural calamities, so what else is new." However, let's note what Jesus says in Matthew 24:8 (NIV): He says that these signs "will be like "birth pangs," that is they will increase in intensity and frequency as the time draws near for His return.
In other words, there will be more intense earthquakes and more frequent ones–that is exactly what is happening today! Another reason these signs are given little respect is that most Christians are so rationalistic that they do not really believe in the supernatural, and they therefore find it hard to believe that God speaks to the world through the signs of nature. Yet the Bible teaches this principle from start to finish.
God dealt with the world's sin through a great flood in Genesis 6. He called the nation of Judah to repentance through a terrible locust invasion in Joel 1. In like manner, he called the nation of Israel to repent by sending storms, drought, mildew, locusts, famine, and pestilence (Amos 4:6-10). The prophet Haggai pointed to a drought as evidence that God was calling the people to get their priorities in order (Haggai 1:10-11).
The New Testament begins with a special light in the heavens marking the birth of the Messiah (Matthew 2:2). On the day Jesus was crucified, there were three hours of darkness and an earthquake (Matthew 27). These are just a few examples of how God has spoken through signs of nature, and He continues to do so today!! We had better pay close attention to them!!
Another great sign is the "sign of society." Jesus said that society would become increasingly lawless and immoral as the time approaches for His return. In fact, He says that it will become as evil as it was in the days of Noah (Matt 24:12, 37-39). Paul paints a chilling picture of end time society in II Timothy 3:1-5. He states that it will be characterized by three loves:
- The love of self (humanism).
- The love of money (materialism).
- The love of pleasure (hedonism).
He points out that the payoff of this lifestyle will be what philosophers call nihilism-that is a society wallowing in despair! People will call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). We are seeing these prophecies fulfilled before our very eyes as we watch our society reject its Christian heritage and descend into lawlessness, immorality, and despair!
We will continue next week on the signs of His return. Until then, let's keep looking up and be ready and waiting for our Lord's return. May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
April 14, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! Last week I shared the thought of "knowing the season of the Lord's return." This week, I want to look a little deeper into this subject of the Lord's imminent return. God is obligated by His character to warn the world of the imminent return of His Son. The reason is that Jesus is returning in great wrath to "judge and wage war" (Revelation 19:11), and God never pours out His wrath without warning. God does not wish that any should perish but that all should be brought to repentance (II Peter 3:9). Therefore, God always warns before He executes His wrath. He warned the world through Noah for 129 years. He warned Sodom and Gomorrah through Abraham. He sent Jonah to warn the pagan city of Nineveh, and he sent Nahum to the same city 150 years later.
Likewise, God is warning the world today that His Son is about to return. He is calling the world to repentance! The message of the hour to unbelievers can be summed up in these words, "Flee from the wrath that is to come by fleeing into the loving arms of Jesus now!!" Jesus came the first time as an expression of God's love–He came to die for the sins of mankind. But when He returns, He will come in vengeance to pour out the wrath God on those who have rejected God's love and grace. The soon return of Jesus also carries a message for the believers.
Lukewarm Christians and carnal Christians are being called to commit their lives to holiness. Romans 13:12-14 says: "The night is almost gone and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts." God is alerting believers of the soon return of His son through what are called "signs of the times." These are prophecies concerning world events that we are told to watch for, prophecies that will identify the season of the Lord's return.
The Bible is full of these signs. There are about 500 prophecies in the Old Testament that relate to the Second Coming of the Messiah. In the New Testament, one out of every twenty-five verses are concerned with the Lord's return. Folks, there is no way to escape the conclusion that we are living in the last days!! Do you long for His return? Is His return exciting to think about? The main question–Are you ready?? We will continue next week on the different signs of the Lord's return. May the Lord richly bless each one here today!! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
April 7, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon. The Bible teaches that no one can know the date of the Lord's return–but did you know that the Bible teaches that we can know the season of His return! And I believe that we are currently living in that season. The signs of the end times do indeed point to the soon return of Jesus. Throughout my years in the ministry, the Lord has certainly burdened my heart to proclaim this message of His return to as many people as possible and as quickly as possible!! A burden kind of like what the prophet Jeremiah experienced when he said that the message God had given him "had made his heart like a burning fire shut up in his bones, and that he was so weary of holding it inside of him that he could no longer endure it" — in other words–Jeremiah had a message to preach and so do we!!
Regarding the Lord's return, we find these words in Titus 2: "The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." We need to ask ourselves this question, "Are we living and looking for the appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ?" That's what this verse tells us to do! Christians are to live with an expectation, live with a yearning, and live with a hope that Jesus may appear any minute. I know from my experience that many Christians do not have this hope in their hearts. They do not have any enthusiasm or concern about the Lord's return.
One of the major reasons for this lack of concern is the fact that people have heard about it for so long, that they have come to take it for granted. Oh yes, they believe Jesus is coming back, but they think it is an event that will occur at some point in the distant future. The Lord's return is not an eminent reality to them, it is simply just a dream or a hope. Church, may I say this, "Jesus could return at any moment of any given time. There is nothing holding Him back except the Father saying when it's time!!" Matthew 24 tells us, "Of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone." I have folks ask, "Can you know when Jesus will come?" My answer to that is "yes and no!" No, we cannot know the date. Yes, we can definitely know the season.
There have been and will be many more who set dates when the Lord will return. This is not scriptural!! And the Devil loves date-setters because they bring discredit to Bible prophecy. Jesus Himself indicated that we could know the season of His return. In the book of Luke, He delivered the Olivet Discourse to His disciples during the last week of His life. He listed many end times signs that we are to watch for- and then He said: "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up, lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near!!" The "things," He was speaking of are happening. right now! Let's be ready for our Lord's return! Let's "shape up," because we are getting ready to ship out"!!! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
March 31, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! Throughout the years, I Have been fortunate to be a part of many weddings for many couples young and old. And as always, the bride is the center of attention. In our modem culture, the bride is the centerpiece of every wedding ceremony. She wears the long, flowing dress and enters to a bridal march. She parades down the aisle with the pomp and circumstance reserved for kings, and people stand as she enters. It is clearly all about the bride. The lowly groom, however, is an afterthought. He is like the warm-up act for the main attraction. He usually enters the side door wearing a tuxedo some other groom will be wearing next week. For the groom, there is no grand march.
The way we do weddings today is quite different from the way weddings were performed in the Bible. The book of Revelation describes the mother of all wedding scenes. But here– it is the groom gets all the attention!! Revelation 19:7 (NIV) says: "Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready." It is the wedding of the Lamb, not the wedding of the bride. A couple of verses later (Rev. 19:9) (NIV), John writes, "…..Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the lamb…………" The spotlight is fixed firmly upon the groom Jesus! When John the Baptist settles an argument about his position in Christ, he uses wedding imagery to set the record straight. He declares that he is simply a friend of the groom, that Jesus is the center of attention! John also declares in John 3:29 (NIV): The bride belongs to the groom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him. and is full of joy when he hears the bridegrooms voice………… " The bride belongs to the groom.
Not only is this a picture of the ancient marriage, it is a beautiful picture of the church and Jesus. As a pastor, it is my job to watch after the bride on behalf of the groom. I must remind myself regularly, that the church is not mine, I am a steward. I may be a shepherd and a leader, but I am not the owner, title holder, or CEO - because the bride belongs to the Groom!
In a healthy church, Jesus is the most famous person. He is the most talked about. He is clearly center stage. He is the head of the church, and the church should desire to spread His fame. We should desire to let the world know that this Groom is coming to get His Bride at any moment–and the Bride must be ready!!
May we all have that desire to tell the world about this soon coming Groom! Christ doesn't exist to make much of us–we exist to make much of Him!! He gave His all for you and I on the cross of Calvary. We must be willing to give our all, each and every day for Him!! May He richly bless each one here today!! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
March 24, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! As Christians, we are called to go into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in that the Lord's house will be filled (Luke 14:23). In essence, we are to be world changers! The Bible gives us the secret of a world changer. "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith………." (Hebrews 12:2). World changers run the race of life for Jesus.
In Ancient Greece, Olympians did not compete for gold, silver, or bronze. They competed for a laurel wreath from the emperor. In the distance, exhausted runners could see the emperor standing with the laurel wreath that would be placed on the head of the winner. As Christians, we're running the race of life. We get tired from the attacks, obstacles, and challenges. We must look ahead, for there stands Jesus!! We are running to Him and He does not stand there with a laurel wreath, but rather a crown!!
The apostle Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (II Timothy 4:7-8). Look to Jesus!! He is the one we seek to honor every day!! He is the one whom we will stand up for one day. He is the one we are running this race for!! We don't do it for applause. We don't do it for notoriety or fame. We do it so that we can stand before Jesus one day and hear Him say, "Well done my good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your Lord."
Look to Jesus–don't look to circumstances. Don't look to people either– for they will disappoint you as well. Don't always look for them to have an encouraging word. In fact, they may have a discouraging word! Instead, look unto Jesus!! Keep your eyes toward the finish line where our Savior awaits eagerly for us to finish this race!! He didn't save us to "sit." He saved us to "go." Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19).
He didn't say you would have to do this alone. "…….. for lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). He does promise an eternal reward for His children: "Rejoice and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in Heaven………" (Matthew 5:12). Let us all be a world changer for our Lord and Savior whether it be in our homes, our community, or our church. May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
March 17, 2019
Good morning and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! First, let me shout out a big welcome to Bro. Doug Garrison and his awesome family as they join us today to begin their ministry here at Enon!
Sharing our faith should be natural response of a child of God. It doesn't take a degree or any specialized training, but simply a willing heart to share what the Lord has done for you! Jews in Jesus' day had a hard time understanding how Gentiles could be saved. To the Jews, the Gentiles were considered vile, cruel, and godless with no concept of anything of God. This is why it shook them so much when Paul says "yes, salvation is for them as well." Here is how he put it in Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Salvation is for everyone!! There is nobody, in any circumstance, that is alienated from the power of God! You may say, "But my life is really messed up." May I say this: He created the universe in six days, he has raised the dead, caused blind to see–He can handle your mess!! No wonder Paul was ready to preach the gospel; (Romans 1:15: So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also), when you have experienced power like that.
I recently heard a story of a young man who started a flag football team with some of his buddies, hoping to share the gospel with each of them. Luke tried several times, but they had "zero spiritual interest!" Luke was ready to give up, especially when he saw several of the guys getting into fights with the opposing team. But he decided one last time to share his testimony, share the gospel, and share why- as a Christian — he didn't want to be part of a team known for brawling with opposing teams. He was afraid it went on deaf ears, but a couple of weeks later he invited them all to a campus outreach service to which he was speaking. They heard him give the message and invitation, and one of them — the ringleader of the fighting issues gave his life to Christ. But that wasn't the end of it! Later that night, this young man who had just accepted Christ began to share his new life with the other guys. He only knew about three verses in the Bible, so when his friends asked, "How did you get saved?" he googled it!! He googled, "How to become a Christian," and through that he found the Romans Road online and lead two more of his friends to Christ!!
Charles Spurgeon once said-, "When you understand what Jesus has done for you, you will not be able to keep the good news to yourself! You see church, you don't need a public speaking course. You don't need to go to seminary. When you have Jesus, you become the most eloquent speaker there is, because you are talking about something that comes from your heart. When the gospel becomes real to you, then you will be eager to share it with everyone around you!'! May He richly bless each one here today!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
March 10, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship at Enon! You and I are not facing the same kinds of persecution the Apostle Paul was when the Lord appeared to him in a prison cell on the Isle of Patmos. In many parts of the world, this type of persecution is still common. Compared to the average believer in Afghanistan, Libya, or China, our lives are pretty easy. And yet, we have more in common with Paul than we'd like. Most of us are facing situations in life that overwhelm us, we can see storm clouds on the horizon of our lives. If we don't see those clouds now, it is only a matter of time. Your storm may come in the form of a chronic illness. You may be walking through a family issue. Maybe you are fighting a battle to addiction. Or maybe there is just a dark cloud of mental anguish, anxiety and depression, that colors everything in your life. Whatever the storm, you may feel like you are long past hope. You may feel ready to give up. If this is you, I can guess what you would like me to tell you. It's the same thing I want to hear when I am suffering, "Don't worry, God is going to end all your problems!" But the tough truth is, that at least in the short run, suffering may last a little longer.
God's victory promises that suffering won't last forever, but it may last far longer than we would like. In fact, it may last an entire lifetime. Sometimes we want a theology that promises if we are a good person, then God will remove all the problems of our life. But here is the problem with that–You will never come to a close relationship with the Lord that way. He didn't come to give "good" people a little pep talk so they could overcome their problems. He didn't come as a life coach promising good advice. He came as a doctor to the hurting, sick, and the dying. He came as a comforter to the crushed and broken!! If you are suffering, pressing toward Jesus may not mean your suffering goes away. It might just mean you get more of Jesus in the midst of your suffering. I know this is not the most popular preaching–but it is the truth!! You see; it is through these problems God makes you stronger!
Isaiah says that, "God wants to turn us into 'oaks' of righteousness." I recently read that oak trees in storm-rich areas are the strongest because the winds and storms cause their roots to grow deeper. That, my friends, is what the Lord desires of us–for us to grow deeper in Him through the storms!! The problems we face in life are real, but may I submit to you today that Jesus is real too!! And He is bigger that any problem we face! In the midst of tribulation in our lives, may we remember the words to this grand old song–"When peace like a river, attendeth my way. When sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, It is well, It is well with my soul." With Jesus, all things are well!! May He richly bless each one here today.
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
March 3, 2019
Good morning Enon Church family and welcome to Sunday morning worship service! Many times our lives do not look picture perfect. Loss, loneliness, relationships, health concerns, financial issues, and other problems take no holiday! Sometimes these problems can come when many people around are living joyously thus leaving us to feel even more discouraged and defeated. When we see no way out of despair, many of us want the company of someone who has gone through a similar situation and understands our struggle. Maybe that is why we identify with biblical characters like David and Paul who have experiences the discouragement of afflictions. In 2 Corinthians 1:8, Paul writes of one of the most difficult times of his life when he says, "………we were burdened excessively, beyond out strength, so that we despaired even of life;" This experience was so overwhelming for Paul that he saw no way out. He says in vs. 9: "indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves………." Whether you feel slowly pressed into hopelessness by the accumulation of many everyday stresses or life has been upended by an overwhelmingly difficult and painful situation—friend you need encouragement!!
The Greek word translated for comfort or encouragement is "paraklesis," which means "a calling to one's aid." Isn't that what we need when we are overwhelmed—someone who will stay when we grow weak! When Paul was at his weakest, "……… the Father of mercies and God of all comfort" came along side to encourage him in the midst of his affliction (2 Corinthians 1:3). God's comforting nature is displayed in all three members of the Trinity, not simply by the "Father of Mercy." Paul said "For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ." (2 Corinthians 1:5). And in John 14:16, Jesus described the indwelling Holy Spirit as "another Comforter."
The entire Godhead is at work lifting us up, giving support and comfort in adversity!! Upon salvation, we aren't expected to fend for ourselves. God tenderly cares for us as His children and He's promised never to leave us or forsake us. Even if we feel as if we are all alone in our struggles, God is there, carrying us through when we have no more strength to continue. If we never had troubles, we would never know the comforting aspect of God or depend upon Him as we should. In fact, He sometimes allows us to go through suffering and hardships that are beyond our ability to bare so," ……… that we would not trust ourselves, but in God…………." (2 Corinthians 1:9). He rules over all our situations with the purpose of bringing us through and looking more like His Beloved Son and having a closer relationship with Him. We serve an amazing God!! May He richly bless each one here today. -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
February 24, 2019
Good morning church family and welcome to Sunday morning worship at Enon. In II Corinthians 12:7, Paul has something he called a "thorn in the flesh." Whatever that thorn was, it was a tool of the Enemy who surely sought to discourage Paul. God, however, was sovereign over Paul's life, and he had a purpose for allowing the thorn. Sometimes God allows the thorns into our lives for a specific reason. Here are some reasons I believe the Lord leaves thorns in our lives.
- To keep us humble. This is clearly the case in II Corinthians 12. Paul had been taken into the heavens, but God would not let him get arrogant about his experiences. In fact, the text says twice that God intended to keep Paul humble.
- To make us weak. Paul learned the lesson God intended for him to learn: when Paul was at his weakest, God would be his strength—and He's all the apostle would need. Sometimes, our strength may stand in the way of God working through us.
- To make us pray more. We can assume from his writings that Paul had a vibrant prayer life, but he nevertheless prayed multiple times for God to remove the thorn. God did not respond to what Paul wanted, but He surely was pleased that the apostle turned to Him in prayer during his pain.
- To make us witness to the world. It's not when we are rejoicing on the mountaintop that we are the strongest witness of God's love and empowerment; rather, it's when we rejoice even when we are in the deepest valley. The world takes notice when our thorn is incredibly painful, yet we still sing God's praises through it!
- To teach us the power of His grace. We speak often about grace, but that doesn't mean we really appreciate it. We don't know just how sweet that grace is until it's all we have left!! When God's grace is all we have, it's ever present, always available and sufficient for all we need.
- To teach other—which we are doing right now. Because of this story in a Paul's life, you and I can learn today to trust God better when we bear our own thorns. When we learn like Paul to rejoice in whatever state we find ourselves in, we have gone a long way in defeating the devil's purpose against us!
Whatever thorns the Lord allows in our lives, let us keep our eyes on the Lord through it all and He will make the unbearable bearable!! May He richly bless each one here today!! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
February 17, 2019
Good morning and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! Years ago, I remember seeing a picture in a church supposedly of Jesus. It looked like an Olan Mills portrait. Jesus had surprisingly fair skin, full lips, beautiful braided hair. He had an expression on his face like he was watching a bird fly by. I'm not sure where we get this image from – not the Bible. Jesus was a carpenter which would mean he would be more rugged and buff not soft and flowy. More important than his earthly profession is the way He is depicted in Revelation 1. His hair was white and as wool and His eyes were like fire, His feet burned like a furnace, and His voice sounded like many rushing waters. If we take this description at face value, this would not be a character we would want to run into in a dark alley! But John, when he wrote this in Revelation, didn't want us to take this image literally. He was using symbolism to try and show just how powerful and awesome Jesus is!! In Revelation 17:1, John says: "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead." Jesus and John wee close friends on earth. John actually refers to himself as "the one whom Jesus loved." John was not trying to say he was better than the others. He was saying that He was amazed that Jesus kept on loving him despite how bad John had failed Him. Jesus and John were so close at the last supper, John laid his head upon Jesus' chest (John 13:23).
Now I have some close guy friends, but none close enough to lay their head upon my chest at dinner! But you know who would do that? —my children!! John has a love for Jesus as a loving child toward a parent! When John sees Jesus in Revelation 1, it has been decades since he last saw him. How did this reunion go? Well it was no warm and fuzzy meeting. Instead, John falls at His feet as though he was dead! Is this Jesus who appears to John different than the One he had known in the past? No!! It's just when Jesus was on earth, this part of Him was veiled. That same power was there; we just couldn't see it. Now John is seeing Jesus in all His power and glory!! Why is Jesus appearing this way to John now? Because Jesus is showing John that His plan is not to deliver His church from persecution and pain—things are not going to get better! Instead He shows John His true power, His majesty, and His love, so that the church would know the power we have from Jesus through any trial or storm we could ever face in these last days!!! You see church, in times of trouble and persecution, Jesus is not like some therapist, or some life coach. He is strong and mighty and sovereign over all other powers in this world! He can and will help you make it through till the end!! What a mighty God we serve!! May he richly bless each one here today. -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
February 10, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship. I recently had the question asked, "What are the top things a new Christian should learn within the first year of becoming a Christian?" This is a wise question, because if you are off by a few degrees at the start, you will be off by miles later down the road. I know that from my experience. I have been saved for over 34 years, and God has had to redirect me on multiple things because of what I mistakenly believed early on about being a Christian—and it is better to learn sooner than later! I believe there are some good answers to this question, and I want to list a few of those.
- The one thing the Bible emphasizes more than us loving God is "God loving us!!" God is not in heaven plucking a daisy while saying, "I love them" – "I love them not." His love is never ending!! (I John 4:16).
- Your motivation for and the purpose of your learning, serving, worshipping, giving, and praying is to grow more in love with God and with people (Matthew 22:36-40).
- You are not only saved by grace, but you grow by it as well. A common trap with new and growing Christians is trying to clean up their lives without God's help. I heard a false teaching that says, "the less you sin, the less you need God's grace." Beloved, may I say, you cannot sin less and love more without the strength of God's grace.
- Don't trample all over the Great Commandment (love God, love people). Lead people to Jesus by loving people to Jesus. If these people ask you why you live the way you do, simply share with them why you put your hope and trust in Jesus!
- Focus on Jesus, His cross, His resurrection, and His kingdom. When you confessed Jesus as the living Lord and Messiah, you never said, nor will you ever say anything more meaningful and important!! All the world's greatest gifts – love, life, truth, grace, etc. have a name – Jesus.
- God cares about your whole life, not just your spiritual life. It is a mistake to think God is only concerned about a section of your life – personal, emotional, social, family, and so on. Lastly, and what I feel to be most important, is your daily communication and communing with the Lord through reading His Word and in prayer. This must happen daily. Give the Lord the first part of your day and ask His guidance and fellowship throughout your day. After all, this is what He truly desires – your fellowship!!
These ideas are not just for new Christians but for all Christians! May we desire to fellowship and follow our precious Savior! May He richly bless each one here today! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
February 3, 2019
Good morning Enon church family and welcome to Sunday morning worship service! Ephesians 6:10-12 reads: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. The enemy will do everything possible to thwart God's plan for His church. But in Christ, we are called to win this battle!! To do this, we must consecrate ourselves to Jesus and His mission. We must understand that we are in a battle with principalities and powers that will not be defeated through merely human efforts producing merely human results. We must actively use the armor of God as the body of Christ to win this spiritual battle. How do we prepare for this battle? We must continually train our people to understand that the church is not just a building – it is a body! The church is not driven by event but an everyday mission in all of life – that being:
- Love God and love others.
- Serve God and serve others.
We must disciple and train each one in the body of Christ to be able to stand strong in the Lord to guard against the Enemy. As we move closer to the return of Christ, we will definitely see an increase of spiritual wickedness in our world. This past week not only were the New York legislators rejoicing and applauding over the hideous abortion laws passed, but so was Satan and all his demonic forces!! Now this week, North Carolina liberal legislators are vowing to pass the same law as in New York! Even in the midst of all the evil there is good news though!! Luke 21:28 tells us: And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh. It can't be long before the return of our Lord!! Let the body of Christ stand strong together in these last days and bodly proclaim the Word of the Lord!! May He richly bless each one here today! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
January 27, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! When you put your faith in Christ, God commissions Himself to protect, provide, and care for you (Phil.4:19). God always provides for His children, though not often the way we expect or hope. The challenge is for us to see the provision and care, even when it is different than we expect. Because God is God, and His ways are higher than our ways (Isa 55:9). I have heard it said, "God is always doing 10,000 things in your life, even though you may be only aware of two or three of them." Over and over again, Jesus' disciples missed what He was doing right in front of them. They missed the point of the miracles. They missed the point of the lessons. This should give us hope for our own lack of clarity today. Here are four important encouragements about how God provides and cares for you.
- God may provide differently than we expect. Even with God's supernatural provision for the children of Israel in the desert, they still grumbled and complained. They longed for the food in Egypt. God was literally providing bread from heaven every day, yet they wanted His provision in a different way—they wanted it "their way." This lesson has spoken to me over the years. Ask God to provide for you in whatever way He deems fit. Don't grumble against God's supernatural, unexpected ways!
- God provides more of Himself. Our greatest need is for more of God, and this is something He gladly gives us! The Bible tells us to make the pursuit of God the primary function of our lives. Matt. 6:33 says, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. Psalms 37:4 says, Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. We need to ask ourselves these questions: "What is the deepest root of my joy? Is it what God gives to me? Or is it what God is to me? God graciously guides us into a greater realization that our ultimate need is far more of His Word, more of His ways and more of Him!"
- God's ultimate provision has already been given in His Word. James 1:7 reminds us, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Every truly good thing in our lives come straight from the Father. The ultimate good He provided us, through whom much of the other good things come to us, is Jesus! Jesus is the ultimate treasure!!
- Finally, God provides eternity. This life is fleeting. This life is fragile. This life is but a vapor. The next life, the age to come is where all God's provision and care for us will ultimately make sense and come together as a whole! We may not receive healing in this life, but we will receive perfect healing in eternity!! We may not see answers to our prayers in this life, but we will understand fully in eternity!! Some days God's provision and care may seem distant, but it will be ever present in eternity!! Sometimes our hearts ache under the pressures of this life, but it is only because we were made for another world – our home in eternity! May He richly bless each one here today. -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
January 20, 2019, Church Service Canceled – freezing rain & snow.
From the Pastor's Heart
January 13, 2019
Good morning Enon Church family and welcome to Sunday morning worship service! Becoming a Christian is about the easiest thing a person can do! After all, all the work has already been done! Jesus died on the cross to pay for sin. He rose from the dead to give us life. He ascended back to Heaven to make intercession for us before the Father. The Father accepted the sacrifice of Jesus at the cross. He sent the Holy Spirit to draw sinners to Himself, and when sinners do come, He gladly receives them and saves them by His grace! All the sinner has to do is believe!! Acts 16:31 says: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. However, after we are saved, that is when the struggles begin.
Before I was saved, I never understood the struggles that Christians are forced to deal with on a daily basis. I mean, here we are, saved, ready to go to Heaven and be with Jesus, yet we are expected to live in a sinful world. Here we are surrounded by temptations and trials all around and at the same time, God expects us to be busy working for His glory. Oh, it is the best life possible!! I wouldn't trade one minute of Christian life for 1000 years of a life of sin! This is far better, but you have to admit that at times, we all just want to go home!! This is the problem Paul faced. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul had reached a point in his life that he just wanted to go be with Jesus. I suppose he was tired of the trials and struggles and longed for the happy city of rest where he could be with the Lord he loved so dearly. After all, he is in prison when this letter is being written. I think Paul suffered from the save mixed emotions that many Christians feel in our day and time. Just like Paul, we are ready for Heaven, but needed on Earth!! In Philippians 1:23, Paul says, "for I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ, which is far better." Paul uses the word "strait" which is used of a prisoner, who is unable to go as he pleases, but is confined with the walls of his cell. When Paul uses this word, he is telling us that he feels like a prisoner in this world. In other words, his body is here, but his heart is elsewhere. He feels the pressure of this life and longs for the freedom of Heaven.
There are times, if we are honest today, that we would just like to go home to be with the Lord! Sometimes we may feel trapped by circumstances or situations beyond our control and just want to be free. We may desire to go to Heaven, but may I submit to you today that – you have a purpose for the Lord while you are here!!! God saved us to work. Ephesians 2:10 says: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Every Christian has a job to do. I Corinthians 12:7 says: "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal." As Christians, we have been created for good works to be a profit to the Kingdom of God!! Beloved, I believe the Lord is soon coming and we will be home with Him. Until then, let us keep on serving our Lord so that many more around us will come to know Him as Savior!! May He richly bless each one here today! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
January 6, 2019
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship at Enon! Reading the Bible more is high on the priority list for most Christians in the new year. Many will start reading the Bible with great enthusiasm but fizzle out before the next page of the calendar is turned. I've been there. My guess is that you have been as well. Why do so many struggles to simply read the Bible consistently? It has much to do with our motivation. It is important to pay attention to the desires of the heart when we set out on a spiritual endeavor. I want to list three reasons that should not motivate us to read the Word followed by three reasons that should motivate us.
- We should not read the Bible simply to make God happy with us. If you are in Christ, God is already happy with you. He looks at you with unending, unconditional mercy, love and grace because he sees the righteousness of Christ. It's not about being obedient to impress God—Christ has already been obedient on your behalf! It was part of the great exchange on the cross—your sin for His righteousness!!
- We should not read the Word to impress others. We live in a performance-based culture. We are fearful about what people think of us and are driven to make people think better of us. It's not about performance in our spiritual lives. What we do ultimately does not matter in eternity if our motivations are more about pleasing mankind instead of worshipping our Savior.
- We should not read the Bible simply because it's what "good Christians" do. Christianity is not a long list of do's and don'ts making us into a better Christian. Following Christ is about making us more into the image of God. Obedience is not about making people say, "wow, look at them!" They should be saying, "wow, look at their God!"
Now, three reasons that should motivate us to read the Bible.
- Read the Bible to build the habit. One of the biggest reasons people are not in the Word is lack of habit. Before we can experience the Word of God in a life-changing way, it must be an integral part of our day. Make a daily habit or reading the Word! It's not just reading, it's fellowship with God!!
- Read the Word to understand God and His plan for your life. God's Word is meant to be delighted in—savored and enjoyed as a way to know God better. Reading the Bible to "check it off my list" is a chore. Reading the Bible to know God better is a joy!!
- Read the Bible to worship God and respond to what you learn. We study the Bible to give God glory and proclaim his goodness. Like the moon which reflects the sun's glory into the night, we are here to reflect the glory of God into the darkness around us.
The end goal of our salvation is not just our salvation. If that were the case, we would have been taken up to be with God immediately after receiving Christ. Instead we are still here to praise Him, Worship Him, share Him, and live for Him!! May we desire to fellowship with our Lord by studying His Word with a renewed fire this coming year!! May He richly bless each one here today!! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
December 30, 2018
Good morning and welcome to the last Sunday morning worship service of 2018! It doesn't seem like another year has passed! About two years ago, our youngest son was suddenly facing a life threatening health crisis when, in turn, shook our entire family. The crisis did not dive us away from God but to God. I remember calling our family together and gathering around our son and praying over him for God's healing. I don't remember the exact words we prayed, but they were not processed or refined. Honestly, before God, with fear we had rarely known before, poured out of our hearts! Fears and tears eventually turned into faith and peace!! When this crisis unexpectedly entered our lives, we chose prayer!! We depended on God, not just this time, but time and time again—He has showed Himself mightily!!
Prayer must always be our first choice—not your last option! Prayerlessness must not prevail!!! Each follower of Christ must pray with confidence, and each church must pray with power! As we depend on God personally and collectively, we will grow in our walk with our Lord daily. I believe this is only possible when we stand on God's Word as we pray, knowing that God has given us prayer as a means of communication with Him. Prayer is grounded upon deep theological truths. For example, the foundation of a building goes much deeper than what's on the surface. We see the concrete of the structure. Yet, deep below lies the evidence of work that took hours, days, and weeks. The bigger the structure, the bigger and deeper the foundation must be. The same principle applies to prayer. Beyond what we see with our human eyes, the depths of God's Word contain deep theological truths that shape our lives and perspectives.
We can pray with confidence based on God's character:
- The Sovereignty of God. God is all over, in all and through all. God is supreme in this universe and beyond. He is God!! He has no beginning or ending! Most importantly, He is involved in the affairs of this world and in our lives!
- The Trinity of God. God is one in three divine persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. AS Father, He knows our needs and cares for us deeply. As son, He died for us to be saved from our sin. As Holy Spirit, He empowers us to live the Christian life. We pray to the Father in Jesus' name in the power of the Holy Spirit.
- The power of God. God is all powerful, and He is able!! He can do more for us in a moment than we can do in our own strength in a lifetime!!
Whatever your situation may be, talk to God about it! Search the Scripture. Stand on the Word when you pray! By faith, believe that God can and will do above and beyond what we believe He can do!! May He richly bless each one here today! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
December 23, 2018
Good morning to everyone and what a blessing to be in the Lord's house today at Enon! A family who was going out of town for Christmas loaded up their car with luggage, took the dog to the neighbor's house, and loaded all the necessities for their trip. Everything was ready, and they were finally relieved to be in the car. They were halfway down the street when the mother suddenly cried out to her husband, "We forgot the baby!" This is certainly a picture of the modern-day Christmas! We trim the tree. We make our list—and check it twice. We shop till we drop. We go to endless Christmas productions and parties. Then it dawns on us that we forgot the baby: the baby Jesus, the One whom Christmas is all about!! It is possible to celebrate Christmas and forget all about Christ. It is possible to lose Jesus at Christmas. It is possible in this celebration of Jesus' birth to forget all about Him. Thankfully, even when we forget about Him, He never forgets about us! The story of the birth of Jesus is the greatest of all stories. The Bible tells us, "But when the right time came, God sent His son, born of a woman, subject to the law (Gal. 4:4). Jesus came to the earth at the perfect time, when the time was right.
These were dark days for the nation of Israel. The Jewish people had not heard from God in over 400 years—not a single prophet, not one angelic appearance, not one miracle. There was nothing but silence. Then suddenly the silence was broken when God sent the angel Gabriel to a godly man named Zechariah.
The Christmas story starts with a tree—not a Christmas tree but a family tree. The gospels of Matthew and Luke start with genealogies. Genealogies were very important to the Jewish people. Both Mary and Joseph traced their genealogy back to King David. It is interesting to note that the Christmas story does not begin with the words, "Once upon a time," as many fairy tales do. That is because the Christmas story is a factual, historical event!! All other stories we have every heard of are, at best, pale imitations of the greatest story ever told. The story of the birth of Jesus started in heaven and unfolded on Earth. Jesus is the most influential person in human history! It has been said that history swings on the hinge of a stable door in Bethlehem. When we look back at the first Christmas story, we need to remember that the real Christmas tree wasn't decorated with lights. The real Christmas tree was a cross that Christ hung on for you and me. We must realize that we do not just need Christmas—we need Christ!! We don't just need "presents"—we need His "presence!!" May we never forget Christ at Christmas—He truly is the reason for the season!! May He richly bless each one here today!! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
Source of Poem: Mosteller, Angie. Christmas Book. "Twas the night before Christmas." @2008.
December 9, 2018, No Service–Snow
From the Pastor's Heart
December 2, 2018
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! In last week's bulletin we talked about the "good news" that Jesus brought to this world and of the Kingdom of Heaven, this good news spoke of. There are not enough words to describe the beauty that awaits the children of God in our heavenly home!! This week I want to look at the "Kingdom of Earth." Things are not going quite as well in this Kingdom! Violence, betrayal, and thousands of babies murdered daily because of abortion! People killing others in the name of religion. Vows of fidelity constantly being broken. Racial tensions constantly smoldering and often exploding. Fear, depression, and isolation. God's creation has been polluted by sin!
Who does it look like is running the show here? There is not much good news in the Kingdom of Earth! But Jesus has a plan! He describes in in the world's most famous prayer: "Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth, as it is in heaven."o In other words, Jesus says, "I'm going to bring this down here!! Many Christians have been taught that we were supposed to ask God to get us out of this messed-up world so we can be in heaven. But Jesus taught a different prayer. Not "get me out of here so I can go up there," but "make up there come down here." "Make things run down here the way they do up there!" Jesus tells us to ask God to bring heaven— "thy kingdom" and "thy will" down to my family, my church, my neighborhood, and my country—and start with my life in my little corner of the kingdom.
You see, Jesus' gospel (good news) involves the greatest offer of all time—the salvation of mankind!! Not just getting you into heaven but getting heaven into you!! When you accept the offer of the Savior, you accept the greatest treasure ever given to man!! When Jesus was born the Romans had an inscription about Caesar Augustus when read: "The birthday of god was the beginning for the world of glad tidings (good news) that have come to men through him." May I say, this was the earliest form of "fake news!" Glad tidings (good news) did not come from Caesar Augustus but came from a little baby born in a manager two thousand years ago; the Son of God, the Savior of the world, our Redeemer–Jesus Christ!! No mere kingdom of man can transform and redeem the earth. Only King Jesus can do that!!! The Good News is here!! May He richly bless each one here today!! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
November 25, 2018
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! You can tell a lot about people by where they get their news. If people are on one side of the political spectrum they might get their news from one source; if they are on the other side, they might get it from another source. Where do you get your news? Jesus, among other things, was in the news announcing business. That may sound odd, but lets look at the Scripture. Matthew 4:23-24 says, Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness among the people. There is a key distinction we can miss. Jesus teaches–he gives instructions on how to live – but He also preaches or proclaims. Today we associate preaching with the church. But this term was not used that way in Jesus' time. It was a "news" word. Jesus went around announcing that something had happened—and it wasn't just news—it was good news!! That is what the word gospel means—good news.
So what is good news that Jesus proclaimed? Not only did He come to take the sin of humanity upon Himself, but He also came to bring the good news of the Kingdom of God! His purpose was to model the reality of that kingdom in His life, death, and resurrection. His command to us was to pursue the kingdom. His plan for us was to extend the kingdom—go into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in.
So what is this kingdom? Let me try to describe it for you! It is the place where everything that happens meets with God's approval and delight. Everything is precisely as God wants it to be—where the greatest, humble themselves like little children. There are no big shots—no arrogant egos. No one ever has an anxious thought. Every encounter between people causes them to walk away with more joy than they had before they met. As the apostle Paul says, "The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." Watching over this whole realm as its greatest servant and joyful caretaker is God Himself, who will be endlessly celebrated for His love, grace, and mercy shown to His creation!! Can you picture this place? This, Jesus said is the Kingdom of God—and it exists right now!! Loved ones who trusted in Jesus as Savior and have left this life on earth are experiencing this place right now!! May we all desire to bring the "good news" of our Lord and Savior to a hurting world! Jesus is the Light, the Hope, and the Good News to the world!! May He richly bless each one here today!! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
November 18, 2018
Good morning to everyone and welcome to Sunday morning worship at Enon! This time of year we tend to focus on thankfulness and for good reason with Thanksgiving and Christmas occurring this time of year! Sometimes, we leave out one key component of thankfulness—that being "joy!!" It is easy to be thankful without joy. For example, many would say that they are thankful to live in a free nation like ours but are quick to complain about the government or problems in our society. Joyful thankfulness is grateful, but also content with the blessings and will of the Lord—even though things may not go our way all the time. Galatians 6:9 says: And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Often times we grow weary. Things at work are hard. Ministry may be difficult. Raising children may be a challenge. Our health may not be good. Our schedules may be crazy! Through it all, we are to have a joyful thankfulness!! The Bible talks a lot about being thankful, and it also talks a lot about "why" we should be thankful. If we focus on what Jesus went through so we could have eternal life, it would be hard not to be joyful and thankful!! Even on our worst day, none of us have or will ever face what Jesus went through—yet He did it for you and me!! Focusing on what the Savior did will bring joy and thankfulness to your life! Also, we must always realize that He is always in charge of everything! That means the bad day you are having was designed by God for your benefit and His glory. It is not a random occurrence but rather a divine appointment orchestrated by the King of kings.
The Bible tells us that God has numbered the hairs of our head, and if He is concerned enough about us to know the amount of hair on our head, then we can rest assured that we can take joy and be thankful for any situation He has ordained for our lives!! Finally, we must keep eternity in mind. While we may be caught up in the here and now, we should always remember that the here and now is nothing compared to eternity. That situation in your life that may be robbing your joy—will not last!! As God gives you opportunities to show thankfulness to Him and to others; do you take it with eternity in mind or are you focused on the temporal that will keep you from being joyous and thankful? My encouragement to you, no matter what situation you are going through in life, is to be joyfully thankful!! Why? Because you serve an amazing God who loves you and cares for your every need!! May He richly bless each one here today! -Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
November 11, 2018
Good morning and welcome to Sunday morning worship service at Enon! What makes someone a follower of Jesus? When asked that question, people will generally give a wide variety of answers such as: going to church, donating money to good causes, or trying to be a good person. The answer is actually much simpler; all we have to do is follow the leader!! This includes walking in the footsteps of Jesus, surrendering our lives, and mirroring His life in prayer, service, and sacrifice! To determine if someone is truly following Jesus, we must use biblical guidelines. When Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, He called Simon Peter and Andrew to leave their occupation as fisherman and follow Him (Matt. 4:18-19). Their response demonstrates what following Jesus involves; immediately they left their nets and followed Him (Matt. 4:20) This was a whole life commitment, not merely a religious activity.
What are the characterizes of a follower of Jesus? In order to evaluate whether we too are following Jesus, we must understand what experiences are true of those who are genuine followers. First, and most important, a follower must be born again! Jesus says in John 3:3, verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Being a Christian is not just becoming better or improving ourselves, its's an entirely new life born of the Spirit. Next, if we are to be a follower of Jesus, we much be a person of prayer just as He was. For prayer to become a priority, we much make it a daily habit to have a quiet time alone with God. Next, we much take time to listen to Him! As the sovereign Lord and Master not only of the universe but of our individual lives, God requires our submission and obedience to His will. That is why we much take time to listen to Him while we read His word and pray. Next, we must have obedience to be a follower. In John 8:12 Jesus says, I am the light of the world, He who follows Me will not have darkness, but will have the light of life. When obedience is the desire of our hearts, we will realize how foolish it is to go our own way. It is always good to obey Him because He is the source of every good thing! Finally, are to love God with all our heart, and with all our soul, and with our mind, and with all our strength (Mark 12:30). The love we are to have for Christ involves our entire being. We cannot follow Christ with a divided heart – half in the world and half with God! Let us all be true followers of Christ!! May He richly bless each one here today!!
-Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew
From the Pastor's Heart
November 4, 2018
Good morning Enon church family and welcome to Sunday morning worship. The Lord had a great calling for Moses — to free more than 2 million Israelites from Egyptian bondage. And this future liberator of Israel seemed very qualified for the task. As Pharaoh's adopted grandson, he would have had access to royal privilege, power, and education. But Moses also had a strong independent spirit that could get in the way of his obedience to the Lord. God's plan required a broken spirit that would follow Him and rest on His divine power. Killing an Egyptian soldier for beating a slave was God's opportunity to teach Moses an important on obedience. Realizing that the murder has been witnessed by others, Moses fled into the wilderness to escape Pharaoh's wrath. It was there that Moses came to the end of himself!
Like Moses, we are all born with the tendency toward selfishness and stubbornness and want things done our way. But God gives us the opportunities to bring every area of our life to Him in submission. Through few will be given the task of Moses, the Father has a calling in mind for each believer. Whether His plan is that we raise a godly family, reach out to a neighbor, or run to run a business with integrity and consideration. He wants us to do so in His Power!! To prepare us for this work, He sometimes uses brokenness. That probably would not be our chosen method, but Moses had to be broken, but look what the Lord had for him afterwards!!
David had to be broken, but still God called him, "a man after God's heart." Paul had to be broken, yet he was used by God to preach to the multitudes!! Just because you may be going through the brokenness, don't ever think that God is through with you, or He is mad at you, or He doesn't care for you — He is simply preparing you!!! Preparing for what? Possibly for a closer relationship with Him. He could be strengthening your ministry for His service. Or He could be using you as an example and help to others of how to handle the brokenness in their life! The main idea is that He knows us and He knows what is best for us!! He has a plan for each one of us if we will allow Him to work through us. Do you want to achieve what God has planned for you to do? Ask Him, humbly, to bring any brokenness that He deems necessary to make us more in His image! May He richly bless each one here today! – Awaiting the Shout, Pastor Drew