This past weekend we were able to travel down to El Bethel Church in Tampa, where they were having Bro. Michael Gowens in for a special meeting. They had services Friday night, Saturday morning, and then we were at Little Union on Sunday morning. We had a great time visiting with Church friends and family.On Friday night Bro. Michael preached on comfort. He talked about how the Lord told Jeremiah to cry unto the people "Comfort ye, comfort ye" not scare ye, scare ye. He talked about who was to be comforted. He quoted 1 Thessalonians 5:14, "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men." He said we aren't to comfort those who aren't in obedience, but likewise we weren't to brow beat those who were burdened and struggling. He said a good undershepard brings comfort and strength to the flock. It was a wonderful message, one that did me good.
On Saturday morning he preached on comfort and strength again. He used the example of the children of Isreal returning from Babylonian captivity. They left a magnificant looking city and arrived in Jerusalem only to find ruins. They had come a long way and were discouraged. He said this wasn't a time for a message of thunderous proportions and upbraiding the people, but a time for comfort to encourage and strengthen the people for the work before them. I had to take Ruth out in the middle of the sermon, so I missed a bit in the middle there, but it was another good sermon.