THE EPISTLE OF JOY
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Another week rolls by and Pastor Wayne again encourages us through the words of Paul. I thank God for Pastor Wayne and the Heritage Baptist Church, Perry, Georgia, USA for their consistent ministry. Todays Service begins at approximately 21 minutes by clicking on the above link. The Watchmen’s Report follows.
Gibber! Gibber!
Chugley
PASTOR WAYNE WRITES:
July 18, 2025
Dear Heritage Family and Friends,
In 2 Corinthians 1:8-10, the Apostle Paul told us about a time in his life when even his faith was put to the test in such a way that he thought he could not survive. He said he was so burdened beyond his strength to endure that he wanted to die. However, when he realized that his suffering was not from Satan to destroy him, but from God, who was proving Himself to him, he discovered the secret of contentment was not to depend upon himself, or even upon his fickle faith, but to trust in God, who has the power to raise the dead back to life again.
Therefore, in Philippians 4:11-13, Paul said, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Please, enough of the silly illustrations about Jesus helping us achieve some self-centered, narcissistic, egotistic, self-admiring earthly goal. Paul was not referring to winning a race or even being content to come in second. Paul was suffering the physical effects of his travels, his beatings, his lack of food and sleep, his age, and the increased afflictions that come with the approach of death, which we will all face one day. And beloved, the only secret to contentment for that distress is the all-satisfying sufficiency of knowing Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.
The title of this sermon from Philippians 4:1-9 is: The Epistle of Joy, “Paul’s Secret of Contentment.” This will be part one of a two-part sermon.
· The sermon may be viewed at theheritagechurch.org
· The sermon will be available on our website and YouTube.
· The YouTube URL: ttps://www.youtube.com@heritagebaptistchurchperry
Thank you for your continued support and for sharing these sermon study guides with those you think might be interested. We are truly encouraged by the response we’ve received from viewers worldwide
Wayne J. and Linda J. Edwards
PO Box 766
Perry, GA 31069
706-599-3966
wnledwards@gmail.com
THE WATCHMEN’S REPORT
JULY 19, 2025
Wayne J. Edwards, Pastor
My Fellow Watchmen,
One cannot read the Scriptures honorably without discerning how God speaks through the changes in the weather. In Amos 4:7-8, God told the Israelites that He had held back the rain three months before harvest time, hoping they would repent of their sin and return to Him, but they would not. Then, He let it rain on one city but not another, and on one field but not another, but rather than repent of their sins and return to their worship of God, they ran from city to city in search of water.
In the Book of Job, Elihu said God speaks through inclement weather, that all men may know His power. Weather reveals man’s inadequacy. If the seed is not sown in the right season, the harvest will be affected. Can man do anything to overcome that? Sure, we can water our yards and gardens, or irrigate our fields to compensate for the lack of rain, but we still haven’t changed the weather.
So far in 2025, the National Weather Service offices have issued more flood warnings than in any other year on record, dating back to 1986. Throughout history, there have always been floods. There have been times when certain areas have been flooded dramatically, but we have never seen anything comparable to the 13 catastrophic floods in the last 13 days, and according to the NWS, more may be on the way.
While I’m not aware of any specific prophecy related to these “once-in-a-thousand-years” floods, they are a precursor to the events of the Great Tribulation, which will be much more massive. However, I pray that we will allow these “supernatural” disasters to wake us up to see what is truly important in life: to ensure our relationship with God and others is right, for we never know what will happen to us or when.
Notice how God always extends His mercy in such times of distress. Several days after the massive flood in Texas, a small girl was found underneath a crumbled building, being comforted by a dog that had been separated from its owners. Get the picture?
C.S. Lewis writes, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” Can you hear what God is saying to all of us in these storms? If nothing else, they should cause us to reevaluate our priorities, for many have seen those earthly things they worked so hard to accomplish, just washed away. But more importantly, they should remind us of what it will be like when God’s wrath is poured out on the earth, and warn those we love to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord today.
Please forward these articles to those who might be interested in receiving them.
Pastor Wayne
Wayne J. and Linda J. Edwards
PO Box 766
Perry, GA 31069
706-599-3966
wnledwards@gmail.com
