^{December 30, 2007 am     I Am Telling On You!      Isaiah 63}

^{By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church}

I am thankful for the blessings of the Lord in the past year.  It has been my great blessing to be in his family in the Fayetteville Baptist Church .  What has the Lord done for us?  Think of what he has done for us throughout this past year of 2007.  Listen to what Isaiah said about this God we serve. 

Scripture Text:  Isaiah 63:8 will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel , according to his compassion and many kindnesses. ^8 He said, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me”; and so he became their Savior. ^9 In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.^[1]

I will tell: What will you tell of for the past year?

1. The Kindnesses of the Lord:  He has allowed us to live and live in Hope of the future.  We don’t fear the grave because He lives.  He has given us eternal life.

2. The Deeds for which he is to be praised.  What the Lord has done for us.  He has brought us altogether in this place and in this church.  We could have been born anywhere in  the world, but he has chosen this place and this time to bring us together as we are today and have been over the past year.  It is our great blessing to have Him and one another. 

3. His compassion and love for His people.  In spite of all our faults and failures and in spite of all of our sin and short comings, He has loved us and cared for us.  I am thankful that over this past year and years He has continued to care.  e He

4. He has called us His people.  Could the only true God of the universe choose you?  Yes, and he has called you to come to him and be his child.  He wants you.  He wants me.  He wants us to be his.  He wants us to come together in his church and serve him together.  I am thankful for all those who have answered God’s call to come to this church and become a part of His family here. 

Thanks for all those who have served in 2007!  I will tell of those who have heard and answered his call to this family of believers. 

•          The Worshippers

•         The Servants

•         The Tithers

•         The Board Members

•         The Committee Members

•         The Singers

•         The Prayer Warriors

•         The Decorators

•         The Care Givers

•         The Drivers

•         The Teachers

•         The Musicians

•         The Visitors

•         The Preachers

•         The Ushers

•         The Administrators

5. He spoke of us and our sincerity before Him.  He bragged on his children. As we have served and worshipped him in sincerity and truth he has noticed and he has recognized our efforts to be the people he has chosen us to be.  We haven’t tried to be something we’re not.  We have given ourselves to him just as we are.  We have tried to be his hands and feet to our world.  He is ours and we are his.    

6. He cared for us in our distress and in our goodness. In distress and in goodness he has still called us his own and loved us.  We aren’t perfect but we are forgiven and we are his own children.  We are those who have given themselves to Him. 

7. He said He was our Savior.  He sent the angel of his presence to save us.  He is with us and will be with us into the New Year.  The angel of his presence is his Holy Spirit who lives within us.  He is here.

8.   He redeemed us, lifted us, and carried us all of our days.  He has redeemed us, lifted us, and carried us all through this year.  Some he has called home.  We have been chosen to carry on the mission and vision of his gospel and love.   

*Song:  Thank You by Ray Boltz and sung by Robert Allen Bates. 

Where will He carry us into the future?  Where will we go with Him?  Thank you for giving yourself to the Lord in this past year.  Will we continue to seek to fulfill his mission through the next year.