God’s Pilgrims Examples of God’s Independence

Copyright

By Bob Fuhrman

July 4, 2009

            The Message of the Week for July 2009 will be done to reflect God’s Freedom for those people who seek Him for His will in their lives. An example of this guidance, from people seeking the Will of God in their lives and willing to live by His principles, are the Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock. Before they came to shore in the new land of the Americas they formulated a covenant among themselves seeking God’s presence in their lives in the writing of the Mayflower Compact.

            This is a situation about people in a place and point of time. This factual story is not just one for the extolling of American pride. This true story about the Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock is about any and all people who seek God’s Providence in their lives. The Pride which is then realized is a Godly Pride for God’s people as they give Glory to God. They being able to witness the result of their faith in the loving-kindness, goodness, and presence of His Providence.

            The Pilgrims were not people of privilege but people like most all of us. Lead by William Bradford they had faced adversity for many years in their quest for religious freedom. The pilgrims were in a survival situation as they landed upon the shores of the American continent. They put their faith into action, trusting God for His Provision and Deliverance, by writing and agreeing to the Mayflower Compact. With this action they established a rudimentary government, a Body Politick, based in the wisdom of God’s Word, the Holy Bible.

            In the year of 1620 the Pilgrims were on their own. They came ashore from the Mayflower settling in the wilderness. They were in a survival environment. As circumstance would prove true their fate was wrought with hardship during their first winter in Plymouth. The book “The Light and the Glory” by Peter Marshall delineates this struggle and their deliverance in a very detailed and historical manner.

Mayflower Compact : 1620

Agreement Between the Settlers at New Plymouth : 1620

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King James, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain,France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the first Colony in the northern Parts of Virginia; Do by these Presents, solemnly and mutually, in the Presence of God and one another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid: And by Virtue hereof do enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions, and Officers, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the general Good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due Submission and Obedience. IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names at Cape-Cod the eleventh of November, in the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King James, of England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini; 1620.

Mr. John Carver, Mr. William Bradford, Mr. Edward Winslow, Mr. William Brewster,

 Isaac Allerton, Myles Standish, John Alden, John Turner, Francis Eaton, James Chilton,

 John Craxton, John Billington, Joses Fletcher, John Goodman, Mr. Samuel Fuller,

Mr. Christopher Martin, Mr. William Mullins, Mr. William White, Mr. Richard Warren,

 John Howland, Mr. Steven Hopkins, Digery Priest, Thomas Williams, Gilbert Winslow,

Edmund Margesson, Peter Brown, Richard Britteridge, George Soule, Edward Tilly,

John Tilly, Francis Cooke, Thomas Rogers, Thomas Tinker, John Ridgdale, Edward Fuller,

Richard Clark, Richard Gardiner, Mr. John Allerton, Thomas English, Edward Doten,

Edward Liester

It is at this point that I want to give attention to a good friend of mine David Miller as he preaches a sermon on the biblical doctrine of Regeneration.

David Miller is a “Country Preacher” as he would describe himself for these past forty plus years. It was by God’s Providence that I met David. He has become a good friend and mentor to me in the Gospel. When David preaches he does this without the aid of notes. He speaks his mind from a very disciplined study and excellent knowledge of the scriptures. He preaches in churches of 100 to 300 members throughout the United States. I am sure he has preached in much larger congregations but this is the size church that I have visited him in during my travels since January of 1991.

As you listen to David Miller imagine yourself in the place and time of the Pilgrims of Plymouth Rock. In the year 1620 — at a church meeting — maybe lead by William Bradford. This sermon on Regeneration was given in an assembly of  about 125 people — about the number of the Plymouth Rock congregation in 1620. Listen carefully and discern God’s Provision for Freedom for all men and women, for all people who call upon Him in the name of His Son Jesus Christ.

David Miller is a great man to know. He can be contacted: Line Upon Line Ministries, 1008 Trailwood, Heber Springs, Arkansas 72543 Office Number             (501) 362-3754

Bob Fuhrman 1 Corinthians 2: 11-16

www.AskJesusChristIntoYourLife.com

Listen to David Miller’s sermon: