The final day of the Spring Conference has begun in rainy, stormy Lexington.

After singing a special, Pastor Carl Morton from Berry Baptist Church in Berry, Kentucky, brought the first message from Jeremiah 38:6–What to Do When Sinking in the Mire. 

“Fear not” is mentioned 365 times in the Bible–one for every day of the week.

Things Satan did to sink Jeremiah: 
1) Turned people against him
2) Tormented his mind with depression (Jeremiah 20:14-18)
He was ready to quit ministry (Jeremiah 20:7-9)

Things the Lord used to pull him out the mire: 
1) He used the brethren (Jeremiah 38:7-9)
Jeremiah has a friend he didn’t know was working on his behalf. 
2) There is help in the Book. (Jeremiah 20:9)
3) There is healing in the balm. (Jeremiah 8:18-22)
There is only one place to get the balm in Gilead (exalted ground). The balm comes from the balsam tree which has to be wounded. Anyone can come to that tree for healing. 

He closed his message by singing “The Old Rugged Cross.”

Pastor Jeff Hurst from Calvary Baptist Church in Hurricane, West Virginia, preached at 10:30 a.m. We also might add that he was wearing a suit–he never wears a suit except to hitch and ditch. 😉

He opened by showing a picture of “Starry Night” by VanGogh. How many stars are in the sky?

“And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” (Genesis 15:5)

Was God lying to Abraham? Did Abraham receive this promise in his lifetime? (Hebrews 11:12-13; Galatians 3:26-29)

God’s redemptive plan is massive!

We look at the valley of dry bones. (Ezekiel 37:1-2) If anything is lasting, it must be by the hand of the Lord. It starts with the hand of the Lord. We want the bones to come to us, but He takes Ezekiel to the bones. You have got to be led out by the hand of the Lord. We are more concerned about our reputation with the righteous than reaching out to dry bones. “I am a recovering Pharisee,” Hurst admitted.

“Son of man, can these bones live?” (Ezekiel 37:3) “And I answered, O Lord God, Thou knowest.” Can the community around you live? The bones responded to the Word of the Lord. (Ezekiel 37:4-8)

Don’t be satisfied with cleaning the outside, for inside are dead men’s bones. To make a believer takes a short time. To make a disciple takes a long time. Don’t stop short. (Ezekiel 37:9-12)

There are people in this community whose graves are ready to be opened. 

The purpose? “And you shall know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:13)

Can these bones live?

Pastor Dave Parks remarked after his sermon, “There are bones all around here.”

Pastor Mark Campbell from Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church in Salyersville, Kentucky, delivered the final message before lunch from Habakkuk 3:2.

This was a prayer and he is pouring his heart out to God. Lord, Your work needs to be revived! God’s work never suffers. He is sovereign and His will will be accomplished. We need to be faithful. We need a revival of doing His work.

“In wrath, remember mercy.” We are products of the mercy of God. If you are going to do the Lord’s work, you must have a heart of mercy.

In Acts 18:1-11, Paul is simply doing the Lord’s work. He was simply being faithful and thus doing the Lord’s will. Paul waited to be moved by the Spirit to do the Lord’s work. The Lord directs our steps–sometimes specifically and sometimes not.

In Acts 18:9, we don’t read that Paul was afraid, but he was told not to be afraid. God gives us courage to do His work.

He has much people and He protects us also. (vs. 10) Paul persevered. The conclusion is that the Lord’s work is going to be done–it’s just who’s going to get the reward. (vs. 11) “Thank You for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed.” (view lyrics)

May the Lord revive His work in your heart and in my heart.

The conference ends tonight with the final service beginning at 7:00. We hope you can join us! [Schedule]