Triumph Baptist Church

Today we worshiped at Triumph Baptist Church, 1293 Mt. Nebo Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237, 412.63.8204, www.triumph1293.org, Rev. C.L. Giles, Pastor.

Scripture – John 4:46-54 NKJV

So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe.”

The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”

Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!”

Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.

This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”

Bob’s thoughts:

This church has been on my list to visit since before it was built…for a long time I drove past a sign marking this spot as their future home. I remember reading of the spiritual warfare they faced to get the building built. I’m glad we were able to worship with them today.

I only tried one door handle and almost walked away when a woman came and pulled the other door open (more spiritual warfare?). We were warmly welcomed from that point forward.

I was delighted to see a large cross on one wall and colorful banners all around. I also noticed the modern arched ceiling with sprinkler protection, a real plus for a church since church fires usually get a good head start in an empty building.

I enjoyed the passion and harmony of the praise team, the pastor’s refreshing comments that this was Christ’s church, and the prayer for Jesus to have His way in this service.

The sermon was part of a “Living the Dream” series and was based on John 4:46-54 about the royal official whose son was deathly ill. He was healed by Jesus from where He was, which reminded me of the centurion who asked for healing for his servant. He didn’t insist Christ come: as a man in authority he knew that Christ, in His authority, could command the healing of the servant.

I have been called on numerous times to come and lay hands on someone needing healing and today Christ, through the pastor, was my assurance that I can call for Jesus’ healing touch without being in physical contact, some of the application of the Scripture.

God is all in all and above the laws of nature which He created. We try to limit God when we ask for less. The idea was advanced: “It’s not about joining the church, it’s about joining with God.”

I met a Marine who was there for the second service and who, after praying for us, introduced me to a second brother coming in. Talk about an unbreakable bond, Marine brothers in Christ.

Jan’s thoughts:

We drove past this church yesterday and decided to return today for the 8:30 worship service. We arrived early and as we reached the door we thought it was still locked. However a member arrived kindly opened the (unlocked) door for us.

We knew the building was brand new, and it’s quite lovely: spacious and charmingly decorated for the fall season. Signage was ample, though we did not get to tour the entire facility.

Nearly everyone we encountered stopped to introduce themselves and extend a warm welcome, some greeting us again after worship.

We understood fewer attended this earlier service, and we plan to attend the 10 a.m. service in the future.

Following the reading of Scripture the pastor thanked God “for having us eat of that” (Scripture). All I could think was that’s exactly what we should be doing, taking those words into our minds and our hearts and allowing them to literally become part of us.

The untitled message began with the observations that if we want to be blessed we must be a blessing and that faith is believing without seeing although most of us still say “show me.” He pointed out that God is seldom early but He’s never late and His delays test us in our progress toward becoming more like Christ.

He declared that God’s timing is often not ours, we must humbly believe and remember that God is not subject to the laws He created. He will move when the time is right in His eyes, and our job is to trust Him. He will use all sorts of trials and crises to bring us to Jesus, like the child’s sickness in the Scripture, but God’s power defies time and space.

We spoke with the pastor briefly but enjoyed much longer conversations with two Marines we met, one of whom generously took time to pray with and for us.

As anyone who knows us well might guess, this church is somewhat outside the box for us, but I am so glad we went. The people were warm and friendly and the preaching was right on target. After worship, when we spoke with the pastor and told him about the blog, he immediately burst out with, “Be honest.” And you know what? These days, with the unrest in this country, I was truly encouraged right to my soul that when believers join other believers to worship our Savior, differences disappear. In this church I saw people who love Jesus and worship Him, sing and praise His Name, and like me, struggle to hear what He is saying and see what He is doing in this world and in our individual lives. And like me, they want to do His will.

Today I am encouraged because I was blessed with a glimpse of what Heaven will be. Hallelujah!

Our prayer for this church:

Father, we pray this congregation is gifted with the faith to believe without seeing. We ask that You supply them with Your vision as they go in Your Name. Amen.