Thursday, April 9, 2020 Fear#24
Dear Trinity Baptist Church Family: Jeremiah preached during the dark days of the Babylonian exile. Daniel was gone and Jeremiah was preaching to the rabble left behind in Jerusalem. Jeremiah tells them that as dark as those days were, there were darker days coming: “For thus says the Lord: ‘We have heard a voice of trembling, Of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask now, and see, Whether a man is ever in labor with child? So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor, and all faces turned pale? 7 Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. Jeremiah 30:5-7 It is good for us to remember that though our skies are gray, there have been much darker days – plagues, holocaust, world wars, tsunamis. So Israel is yet to go through something God calls “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” But note the assurance God gives for that time: “‘Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,’ says the Lord, ‘Nor be dismayed, O Israel; For behold, I will save you from afar, And your seed from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet, And no one shall make him afraid. 11 For I am with you,’ says the Lord, ‘to save you;” Jeremiah 30:10-11a.
The presence of God is promised for the darkest hours. Hebrews tells us that Jesus promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And God’s ultimate deliverance of His own is a forgone conclusion. Do not fear!
As we anticipate Easter weekend, it is with a wet blanket thrown on it. I have prepared an order of service and a sermon to celebrate the resurrection, but it is going to be without the gathering of believers. I was reminded this week that the first Easter was also not well attended! Look for us on facebook before 10:00 a.m. on Easter Sunday morning.
If you would to catch a Good Friday service, may I recommend Falls Baptist Church, Menomonee Falls, WI. They will be broadcasting live from their fallsbaptist.org website a 7:00 p.m. service beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Rejoice for the LORD reigns.
Embracing Truth, Pastor