Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church
December 10, 2010 
Pastor Barksdale Online
"Greeting One Another In The Love Of Christ"
In This Issue
Weekly Message
News Update
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FWMBC Members and Friends,  
Let me remind you that this Sunday we will celebrate the 66th Anniversary of Fifth Ward Missionary Baptist Church.  It is truly a blessing that God continues to empower His people year after year.  I hope that you are making plans to be at the 11:00AM service.  Dr. James Lightfoot and the Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church will be our special guest.  We will be serving dinner immediately after the service.  Feel free to invite your guest as we thank God for 66 years at FWMBC.   

And don't forget to pray for our sick and shut-in members.    
Pastor Barksdale

pastor 
  

 

Weekly Message 

 


 EMMANUEL
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23) 

 I remember getting lost in a department store as a young child and feeling the terror of being without my mother.  I cried so loud that everyone in the  store came to my rescue to see what was the matter.  Actually, my mother had allowed me to separate for only a moment to teach me a lesson.  The problem was, I did not like to hold her hand in the store but would run in front of her as if I knew where we needed to go.  But she kept her eyes on me and on this occasion when I was reunited with her I grabbed her hand so tight that a pair of pliers wouldn't be able to pry us apart.  I learned my lesson.  I would never run off from her presence again.

Over the years, I still hold on to my mother in Spirit, but I don't need her to be physically present with me at all times.  However I have become dependant on another person's presence whose name is Jesus.  In fact, the reason that Jesus was born was to provide a presence with us that we sorely need. He was to be called, Emmanuel, which is interpreted, God with us. 

There have been times in my life when I felt lost and separated from God.  However, when all seems hopeless, God let's me know that He is with me.  He said in Hebrews 13:5 that He will never leave me nor forsake me.  He provided the Holy Spirit to indwell me and seal my salvation from the time that I believed in Him (Ephesians 1:13).  You may have wondered, "What is God like?"  Jesus is the one person who can tells us what God is like.  John 14:9 says:"He who has seen me has seen the Father."  As we study the Bible and the life of Jesus, we can be assured that God has given us an example of His love for us in Jesus Christ.      

For these reasons, we should celebrate Christmas Day with joy and peace.  As usual, I don't try to dampen the spirit of those who enjoy certain customs this time of the year. Our family also engages in some of these customs.  However many of these customs are not Biblical and may give a distorted view of the real reason for the Season.  Whatever else we do on Christmas, let us remember that "Emmanuel" was born of a virgin to assure us that "God is with us."  And as for me, that fact alone is very comforting.



 
News Update: 
December 11, 2010 - Angel Tree Fellowship (12:00-2:00PM)

December 12, 2010 - CHURCH ANNIVERSARY SERVICE (11:00AM) See "Greeting" above for details. 
 

December 19, 2010 - Christmas Program (3:30PM)

 

December 31, 2010 - Watch Night Service - Pleasant Hill Baptist Church...sponsors are Fifth Ward Coalition OF Churches