Matthews
Church of God
Monthly
Messenger
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April 2019 - In This Issue:
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WHEN IT WAS YET DARK
John 20:1
1
The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was
yet dark, unto the sepulchre
, and seeth the stone taken away
from the sepulchre.
"When it was yet dark"
; it is yet dark for we are living in a very dark hour.
The outlook for this world is grim, dismal and foreboding.
It is predicted that by 2025, some 2.8 billion people will live in 'water scarce' areas causing widespread food shortages.
War, flood and drought affect food supplies.
In October 1929 the stock market crashed; businesses closed their doors, factories shut down and banks failed.
By 1933 millions of Americans were out of work; b
read lines were a common sight in most cities.
Hundreds of thousands roamed the country in search of food, work and shelter.
It was a very dark time.
Could it happen again?
It's a dark hour when suicide is common place and when an increasing number of people are under psychiatric care.
It's a dark hour when there's abuse on just about every level:
- Child Abuse
- Spouse Abuse
- Abuse of the Elderly
It's a dark hour when evil is embraced and applauded.
It's a dark hour and that darkness is producing great fear!
People are immobilized with a deep foreboding fear.
It is yet dark; you can see it in the faces of people that you meet every day; shadows of darkness cover them.
It is reported in the news, we see on the television and hear it on the radio and read about in the paper.
It is yet dark; evil men and seducers are waxing worse and worse.
It's dark and getting darker every day.
It seems that the world over is filled with doom, gloom and despair!
Darkness is used as a metaphor in the Bible for sin and every evil.
It is a symbol of a sinful and lost condition.
Proverbs 4:19
19
The way of the wicked is a darkness; they know not at what they stumble.
Psalm 82:5 a
5
They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness:
Isaiah 59:9
9
We wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.
Sin darkens your understanding of God.
1965 was the year of the great power failure; i
t plunged 80,000 square miles into darkness from New York City to Canada.
30 million people were left in the dark.
But the darkness in the world today is not because of a power failure but because of a failure to deal with sin.
It was so dark at Calvary that it became midnight in the noon-day.
The sun hid its face and birds began to roost in the noon hour.
For 3 long and excruciating hours, the Son of God hung on a cross, suspended between heaven and earth, between two thieves.
It was the darkest day in the history of the world.
It was a day when man was at his lowest and worst.
The darkness of Calvary revealed the depravity of man and the ugliness of sin.
The first Easter started out dark and gloomy; t
he Lord Jesus was dead!
The disciples sat in a dimly lit room with the doors and windows bolted shut.
When it was yet dark the women made their way to the tomb to apply fresh spices to the body of Jesus.
While they were making their way to the tomb it dawned on them that that no one would be there to roll away the stone.
But they wouldn't have anything to worry about because an angel of the Lord had already rolled the stone away.
Not only was the stone rolled away; the tomb was empty.
The women ran to tell the disciples of the empty tomb what they had found.
Mary stayed behind and was weeping because she thought someone had stolen the body of Jesus.
Mary stooped down and looked into the sepulcher and saw two angels.
She didn't recognize them as angels sitting where Jesus had been laid.
They said, "Woman why weepest thou?"
She said,
"Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him"
She turned around and through her tears she saw Jesus but thought He was the gardener.
Jesus said,
"Woman why weepest thou?"
Mary said,
"Sir, if thou have borne Him hence tell me where thou hast laid him"
Jesus simply said,
"Mary"
; she recognized His voice and said,
"Rabboni",
which is to say,
"Master!"
Mary took off running and shouting, "HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE, HE'S ALIVE!"
No matter how dark it gets; never forget that Jesus has risen from the dark domain and He lives forever with His saints to reign!
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CHALK ARTIST
"A picture is worth a thousand words",
so goes the saying.
Our society is increasingly visually oriented, which may be why an
"old"
art form, Gospel chalk artistry, is making a comeback.
It is an amazingly powerful way to communicate the truths of God's Word. Gospel chalk art, also called chalk talk, chalking, performance chalk art, and chalk drawing, is an art form that has been around since the late 1800's.
There's something powerful about seeing a picture unfold before your eyes that cements it in your memory.
David West, from Kenly, N.C. uses his artistic talent and black lights to create works of art that help teach and inspire churchgoers.
We were excited to have him with us for an evening service in March. He reminded us how God carries us on eagle's wings and how not a sparrow falls without His notice.
Exodus 19:4
4
Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.
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COMING THIS MONTH
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April Events |
- Tuesday (2) Widows Ministry @ the home of Jean Mellen
- Sunday a.m. (7) Guest Speaker: Bishop Harry Clark
- Wednesday (10) Hamburgers & Hot Dogs - Fundraiser for VBS
- Saturday (13) Children's Easter Party
- Sunday a.m. (14) Membership Sunday
- Sunday p.m. (14) Candlelight Communion Service
- Wednesday (17) Foot Washing Service
- Sunday (21) Easter Celebration
- Wednesday (24) Pastor Appreciation Service
- Saturday (27) Girl's Day Out/Church of God Children's Home, Concord - 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Ages 5-12)
- Sunday (28) Pastor Appreciation Sunday/Guest Speaker: Bishop Dan Carter - Pastor at Eastway Drive Church of God
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YOUTH RETREAT 2019
"We've laughed. We've prayed. We've cried. We've studied God's word. We've been in the presence of the Lord. We're coming home tomorrow .. changed."
So was the Youth Retreat 2019 at Myrtle Beach, S.C.!
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YWEA 2019 - THE ASIAN COMMITMENT
We kicked off our YWEA offering with $ 1200 during the month of March; we are expecting to exceed last year's total by the time June rolls around.
YWEA (Youth World Evangelism Action) is the ministry that allows the youth and children of the Church of God the opportunity to fulfill the discipleship challenge of the Great Commission.
Why do they need our help?
The light of Christ that once shined brightly across Asia is a dimly lit candle today. With terrorism on the rise, millions of refugees seeking safety, and need for church planters at an all time high,
We are asking God to bring revival, renewal and spiritual awakening to the people of Europe!
How will the money be used?
YWEA 2019 will rescue and care for children, provide benevolence and disaster relief, build ministry centers, and train and equip Asian leaders.
What can I do to help?
Please partner with us in YWEA 2019: The Asian Commitment as we "Send the Light Across Indonesia and Thailand".
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