Covenant Update
Dear Covenant Family:
We had a good service today at Covenant with 26 folks in attendance. Our ministry for August is Food4Kids Backpacks where children in need in the school system can get food provided in school and also to take home over weekends. This need is even greater this year with the inflation everyone is experiencing so be generous if you can for this big need in our community. Please be sure to check out the More Words of Wisdom that Tina included in today’s bulletin that is attached.
Prayer requests were raised for Carolyn and Mack Vlacos who were in Georgia for Carolyn’s brother’s funeral, and for a neighbor and friend of Bobby and Patsy Sutton named Ginny who asked specifically for our prayers this morning. Paul MacArthur reported that Victoria is recovering nicely from her new knee implant, and Michelle Miller reported that her granddaughter Sophia is almost recovered from her facial surgery for an infection, and that parents Luke and Carolyn are both returning to work now.
Pastor Don’s sermon was titled Three Steps to Victory and he used scripture from Revelation 12:7-12. He used the example of football coaches now pushing their teams to motivate them for this coming season. Don said all coaches have about 3 points that they will promote to motivate their players to give their best for the team. We also as Christians have a few steps we also need to follow if we hope and expect to reach our ultimate goals.
Revelation 12:7-9 – And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they did not prevail, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
This scripture describes a battle that occurred between Satan and God’s angels. The devil lost this battle and was thrown out of heaven down to earth. Make sure that you don’t end up in this same situation. Make sure you stay in touch with God through prayer and reading His Word, and following His lead. The world today also has turned the world upside down – good is evil and evil is considered good! Too many people in today’s world are spiritually dead, and unfortunately will blindly follow evil.
Revelation 12:10 – Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down, the one who accuses them before our God day and night.
This scripture describes how believers are accused falsely by the devil, and are treated as bad people. We have to resist giving in to the devil and overcome his claims.
Revelation 12:11 – And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
We can overcome the devil through the blood of the Lamb that was given to forgive us and save us, and also by the word of our testimony, what you can say if you truly have God in your heart.
Revelation 12:12 – For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you with great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time.”
So God will provide for you for eternity, just follow His 3 steps to victory:
1 – Pray to Him
2 – Study His Word and
3 – Follow His lead …. always!
Finally, note that Pastor Don will miss church next Sunday as he and Diane need to travel to Alabama for family purposes. So we will have as our guest speaker next Sunday Noah Wilbanks who is the FCA Multi-Area Director in north central Florida. Noah is a dynamic leader for FCA and I am sure you will enjoy his message.
Hope to see you all next summer! May God bless your week!
Ron
