The Modern Pew

From the Pulpit
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

Bible teaching and preaching from the pulpit of West Georgia Apostolic Tabernacle and our online ministry The Modern Pew.

  1. Sep 2

    but NOT

    BUT NOT — Pastor Paul BaileyLife does not always unfold according to plan. Trouble comes, people disappoint, answers are not always clear, and sometimes circumstances can knock a person completely off their feet. In this encouraging message, “BUT NOT,” Pastor Paul Bailey teaches that while Christians are not immune from hardship, hardship does not have to determine the outcome of their story. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 4:8–9, Pastor Bailey highlights the powerful pattern found in the Apostle Paul’s words: “Troubled, yet not distressed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.” Paul did not deny what he was experiencing. The pressure, uncertainty, opposition, and setbacks were real. Yet each difficult reality was followed by a declaration of what it would not become. Pastor Bailey explains that there can be a “BUT NOT” between what happens to a believer and what ultimately happens within them. The message first looks at Israel standing between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea. They were troubled and appeared trapped, but God opened a path through the very obstacle that seemed to mark the end of the road. What looked like the end became the way forward. The sermon then turns to King Jehoshaphat, who honestly admitted that he did not know what to do when Judah faced an overwhelming enemy. Yet his uncertainty did not become despair. His declaration was simple: “Our eyes are upon thee.” Pastor Bailey reminds listeners that they may not know what to do, but they can still know where to look. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego provide another picture of this truth. They were persecuted and thrown into the fiery furnace, but they were not forsaken. God did not prevent them from entering the furnace; He met them in it. The message offers the comforting reminder that rejection by people never means abandonment by God. Finally, Pastor Bailey points to Jonah. His own decisions took him to a devastating low point, but being down did not mean he was done. God was still working, and Jonah’s failure was not the end of his story. Throughout the message, Pastor Bailey emphasizes a hopeful truth: trouble does not mean trapped, confusion does not mean hopeless, rejection does not mean abandoned, and being knocked down does not mean destroyed. “BUT NOT” is a message for anyone facing pressure, uncertainty, rejection, failure, or circumstances that seem impossible. It encourages listeners to acknowledge the reality of where they are without believing that it must be where their story ends. You may be down — BUT NOT destroyed. You may not see the way forward — BUT God is not finished.

  2. Aug 26

    The Love of Many - But Not Mine

    In “The Love of Many — But Not Mine,” Pastor Paul Bailey delivers a timely and challenging message about maintaining a Christlike heart in a world increasingly marked by hatred, betrayal, selfishness, and spiritual darkness. Beginning with Jesus’ warning in Matthew 24:11–13 that “the love of many shall wax cold,” Pastor Bailey emphasizes an important truth: many does not mean everyone. Christians may not be able to control what happens around them, but they do have a responsibility for how they respond to it. The world may grow colder, but the believer does not have to grow cold with it. Using Jesus’ parable of the ten virgins, Pastor Bailey shows that people facing the same circumstances can make very different choices. Five were wise and five were foolish—not because their circumstances determined their outcome, but because their decisions did. In the same way, believers cannot always choose how others treat them, but they can choose whether disappointment produces bitterness, whether hatred produces hatred, and whether the darkness around them is allowed to change what is within them. The message also stresses personal accountability before God. It is easy to justify wrong attitudes by pointing to what someone else has done, but Pastor Bailey reminds listeners that God will judge each person for his or her own actions. Someone else may choose to curse, hate, hurt, or mistreat, but Jesus still calls His followers to bless, do good, pray, forgive, and love. Their behavior does not have to determine ours. Pastor Bailey further challenges believers to become faithful stewards of the grace God has given them. Grace is not ours to withhold simply because someone has disappointed or hurt us. Drawing from Romans 12:21, he warns against allowing evil done to us to produce evil in us. If another person’s hatred makes us hateful or another person’s bitterness makes us bitter, evil has gained a victory. Instead, Scripture calls Christians to “overcome evil with good.” The message closes with a powerful reminder from Matthew 5:14–16 that believers are called to be the light of the world. The darker the world becomes, the more important it is for that light to keep shining. This encouraging and searching message invites every listener to examine the condition of his or her own heart. The love of many may wax cold—but mine doesn’t have to.

  3. Aug 19

    What is God Waitig On

    What Is God Waiting On? Pastor Paul Bailey In the message “What Is God Waiting On?”, Pastor Paul Bailey challenges believers to consider an important question: Are they truly waiting on God, or could God be waiting on them to obey what He has already said? There are certainly times when Christians must patiently wait on the Lord. But Pastor Bailey explains that once God has given clear direction, waiting can become a substitute for obedience. Drawing from James 1:22-23, he emphasizes that believers are called to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” The central truth of the message is simple: God’s people are responsible for obedience, while God is responsible for the outcome. Pastor Bailey illustrates this principle through three powerful biblical accounts. First, Israel stood before the overflowing Jordan River with the Promised Land on the other side. The priests carrying the Ark could not stop the river, but they could obey God and step into the water. When their feet touched the Jordan, God accomplished what they could never have done themselves and stopped the waters so Israel could cross. Next, Pastor Bailey turns to the wedding at Cana, where the servants faced a shortage they could not solve. Mary’s instruction concerning Jesus was straightforward: “Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” Jesus did not ask the servants to perform the miracle. He simply told them to fill the waterpots. They obeyed completely, filling them to the brim, and Jesus did what only He could do. Their obedience did not produce the miracle, but it placed them where they could experience it. Finally, the message examines Naaman’s healing from leprosy. Naaman nearly missed his miracle because God’s instructions did not match his expectations. He was told to dip seven times in the Jordan. Even after six dips, nothing had changed—but God had said seven. Pastor Bailey reminds listeners that a lack of immediate results does not mean God’s Word has failed. If God said seven, don’t stop at six. Throughout the message, Pastor Bailey draws a clear distinction between what people can do and what only God can do. The priests could step into the river, the servants could fill the waterpots, and Naaman could dip in the Jordan. None of them could produce the supernatural result. This encouraging message calls believers to stop carrying responsibilities that belong to God while refusing responsibilities He has given to them. God can be trusted with the impossible. The question is whether His people will faithfully take the next step of obedience. What are you waiting on—and could God be waiting on you?

  4. Aug 12

    Building on the Rock

    Building on the Rock — Pastor Paul Bailey In the message “Building on the Rock,” Pastor Paul Bailey reminds believers that there is an important difference between making a decision and building a life. A decision may happen in a moment, but a strong Christian life is constructed over a lifetime—one choice, one step, and one act of obedience at a time. Beginning with Matthew 7:24–25, Pastor Bailey points to Jesus’ description of the wise man who built his house upon a rock. The strength of the house was ultimately determined by its foundation. In the same way, believers must first settle the most important question: What are they building their lives upon? The first challenge of the message is to choose the Rock. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 3:11, Pastor Bailey emphasizes that Jesus Christ is not simply one part of the Christian life; He is its foundation. Family, work, relationships, ministry, plans, and the future must all rest upon Him. Choosing the foundation may happen in a moment, but building upon that foundation takes time. The message then encourages Christians to keep building as God leads. If Christ is the foundation, God must also be allowed to direct the construction. Using Psalm 37:23–24, Pastor Bailey explains that God orders the steps of His people. Believers may want to see the entire blueprint, while God may simply be asking them to faithfully take the next step He has already revealed. Sometimes that means making a change or beginning something new. At other times, it means continuing faithfully in the direction God has already provided. Pastor Bailey’s third emphasis is to trust the foundation. Jesus never promised that the house built upon the rock would escape the storm. The rain still descended, the floods still came, and the winds still blew. The difference was what stood underneath the house. Isaiah 26:3–4 reminds believers that lasting peace and strength are found in trusting the Lord. Circumstances may change, but the Rock does not. The message closes with an encouraging reminder from Philippians 1:6. Christians may look at their lives and see unfinished areas, needed growth, and lessons still being learned. But unfinished does not mean abandoned. God is still working, shaping, teaching, and building. Pastor Bailey encourages listeners not to become overwhelmed by everything that remains unfinished. They do not have to build the entire house today. The call is simple: stay on the Rock, listen for God’s direction, trust the foundation, and keep building.

  5. Jul 29

    The Path of Righteousness and the Way of Escape

    Pastor Paul Bailey delivered a message reminding believers that life is shaped by the countless decisions made each day, and that God has never intended His people to navigate those choices alone. Drawing from Psalm 119:105, he explained how God's Word serves as both a lamp for the immediate steps before us and a light that reveals the greater direction of our lives. While the light points toward God's eternal purpose, the lamp provides practical guidance for everyday decisions, ensuring that Christians not only know where they are going but also how to walk faithfully along the journey. Building on Psalm 23:3, Pastor Bailey emphasized that God continually leads His children in "the paths of righteousness." The Christian life is not simply about avoiding sinful behavior but about becoming increasingly like Jesus Christ. Rather than leaving believers to rely on their own understanding, the Good Shepherd walks ahead, inviting His followers to trust His leadership daily. Every decision presents another opportunity to either follow His voice or pursue a path of our own making. The message then turned to one of Scripture's most encouraging promises found in 1 Corinthians 10:13. Pastor Bailey explained that God's faithfulness is often recognized in the "way of escape" He provides during temptation, but His faithfulness begins much earlier through His continual guidance and warnings. Long before temptation becomes failure, and before failure develops into bondage or destruction, God is already speaking to His people. His desire is to keep them on the path of righteousness rather than rescue them after wandering away. Several biblical examples illustrated this truth. Cain was warned before murdering Abel, yet ignored God's counsel. David's sin with Bathsheba was revealed as a progression of ignored opportunities to change course, with each decision taking him farther from God's will until painful correction became unavoidable. Likewise, Ananias and Sapphira were given every opportunity to tell the truth, but chose deception instead of the simple escape God placed before them. Pastor Bailey carefully distinguished between the ordinary trials that come with living in a fallen world and the painful consequences that sometimes result from disregarding God's direction. While not every hardship is caused by disobedience, many seasons of correction could be avoided by responding to God's leading sooner. Even when believers fail, however, God's mercy remains evident as He faithfully provides a path back through repentance and obedience. Concluding with Proverbs 4:18, Pastor Bailey encouraged listeners to examine whether they are following the Shepherd or merely asking Him to bless their own plans. The message offered both challenge and hope, reminding every believer that God is a faithful Shepherd who not only points the way but walks ahead of His people every step of the journey. Those who choose His path will discover that His leadership always leads toward righteousness, His correction is rooted in mercy, and His guidance grows brighter with every step of faithful obedience.

  6. Jul 22

    What Makes a Person Usable to God

    What Makes a Person Usable to God? Speaker: Pastor Paul Bailey Pastor Paul Bailey delivered a message centered on a simple but powerful truth: God is not primarily looking for the most talented, educated, experienced, or influential people to accomplish His work. Instead, Scripture reveals that God is searching for men and women with willing hearts. Using Isaiah 6:8 as the foundation, he explained that the greatest qualification for being used by God is a willingness to say, “Here am I; send me.” The message emphasized that Isaiah volunteered himself before knowing where God would send him or what the assignment would involve. His willingness became the doorway through which God fulfilled His purpose. Pastor Bailey challenged listeners to move beyond asking whether God can use them and instead ask whether they are willing to be used. Drawing from Exodus 35, he highlighted how the construction of the tabernacle was accomplished by people whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were made willing. God has always looked first at the heart, and willingness always precedes usefulness. Reluctant service may fulfill an obligation, but willing obedience brings joy to the Lord and positions believers for His work. The sermon also addressed the common struggle of feeling unqualified. Moses believed he lacked the ability to speak, Gideon considered himself insignificant, and Jeremiah thought he was too young. Yet God consistently reminded His servants that their limitations were never greater than His power. Through passages such as Exodus 4 and 2 Corinthians 12:9, Pastor Bailey encouraged believers to trust God more than their own weaknesses, reminding them that God’s strength is perfected in human weakness. When believers depend on Him instead of themselves, God receives the glory for what He accomplishes. Finally, the message underscored that genuine willingness is demonstrated through obedience. From Mary accepting God’s plan to Peter leaving his fishing nets, David faithfully serving as a shepherd, the little boy offering his lunch, and Ananias obeying God’s command to visit Saul, Scripture repeatedly shows ordinary people being used in extraordinary ways because they simply said yes to God. Their willingness became part of God’s greater purpose, often in ways they could never have imagined. Closing with Romans 12:1, Pastor Bailey called believers to present themselves as living sacrifices, fully surrendered to God. He reminded the congregation that when a person yields their life to the Lord, God takes responsibility for equipping them for His service. The challenge remains the same today as it was in Isaiah’s day: God is still asking, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” This encouraging message reminds every listener that the most usable person in God’s kingdom is not the one with the greatest abilities, but the one with the most willing heart.

  7. Jul 15

    Is Someone Waiting for Me

    Pastor Paul Bailey delivered a compelling message titled “Is Someone Waiting for Me?”, challenging listeners to see obedience to God from a completely different perspective. Rather than viewing God’s direction as something that only affects their own lives, he emphasized that every act of obedience may be connected to someone else’s miracle, salvation, or calling. Using 1 Samuel 15:22-23 as the foundation, Pastor Bailey reminded the congregation that God values obedience above sacrifice. King Saul believed his good intentions could replace simple obedience, but Scripture reveals that God is looking for hearts willing to follow His voice rather than justify their own reasoning. This timeless principle continues to apply today whenever God speaks to His people. The message explored three powerful biblical examples that reveal how God’s plans often extend far beyond the individual He is calling. Jonah’s second opportunity to preach in Nineveh demonstrated that God’s repeated call was not merely about restoring a reluctant prophet—it was about an entire city waiting to experience God’s mercy. Pastor Bailey encouraged listeners to recognize that delayed obedience can postpone someone else’s opportunity to encounter the grace of God. The sermon then turned to Peter’s vision in Acts 10. While Peter struggled to understand God’s unusual instruction, Cornelius was already praying and waiting for someone to bring him the Gospel. Pastor Bailey highlighted how God was working on both ends of the divine appointment, preparing both the messenger and the recipient. Peter discovered that what seemed confusing at first became the doorway for the Gentiles to receive the Holy Ghost, proving that God’s direction is often much larger than we can initially understand. Finally, the account of Ananias and Saul illustrated how one courageous act of obedience can influence generations. Although Ananias only saw Saul’s dangerous past, God saw the future Apostle Paul. His willingness to obey despite fear became a vital part of one of the greatest ministries recorded in Scripture, reminding believers that God sees potential where people often see only problems. Throughout the message, Pastor Bailey challenged every listener with heartfelt questions: Is God asking you to take a step you have been delaying? Have explanations replaced obedience? Could someone else’s answer to prayer be waiting on your “yes”? Concluding with Jesus’ words in John 10:27, he reminded the church that God’s sheep hear His voice and follow Him. This encouraging message serves as a powerful reminder that every prompting of the Holy Ghost carries eternal significance. Listeners will be inspired to trust God’s direction, respond without delay, and recognize that their obedience may become the very answer to someone else’s prayer.

  8. Jul 1

    The Way of the Few

    The Way of the Few Speaker: Pastor Paul Bailey Pastor Paul Bailey delivered a challenging and encouraging message that called believers to embrace the distinct life Christ has always intended for His followers. Centered on Jesus' prayer in John 17, the sermon reminded listeners that Christians are called to live in the world without becoming part of it. While the culture continues to drift further from God's truth, those who faithfully walk with Christ will naturally find their values, priorities, and desires shaped by His Word instead of the world around them. The message began by emphasizing that a close walk with God produces biblical separation. Pastor Bailey explained that as believers mature spiritually, God transforms them from the inside out, renewing their minds and changing their desires. He carefully distinguished biblical separation from isolation, teaching that the principle is one of consecration—being set apart for God's purposes. Rather than withdrawing from society, Christians are called to remain engaged, allowing God to use them as instruments of His grace. Isolation, he warned, leaves believers without purpose, while consecration prepares them for service. Pastor Bailey then turned to Christ's example of ministering to people. Jesus never withdrew from sinners, nor did He compromise His holiness to gain their acceptance. Instead, He entered their lives with compassion, mercy, and truth. Believers are called to follow that same pattern. Christians are not required to embrace sinful lifestyles or participate in worldly practices, but neither are they to lose their burden for those who are far from God. Remembering that every believer was once lost and rescued by God's grace should produce humility, compassion, and a desire to faithfully share the gospel. The sermon concluded by reminding listeners that God's purpose for leaving His people in the world is so they can serve as visible witnesses for Christ. Drawing from Jesus' teaching that believers are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, Pastor Bailey challenged Christians to live lives of holiness that give credibility to their testimony. In an increasingly dark culture, God's people are not called to blend in but to shine brightly, holding forth the Word of Life and pointing others to the Savior. Closing with the powerful words of 1 Peter, Pastor Bailey reminded the congregation that they are a chosen people called out of darkness into God's marvelous light. The message left listeners with searching questions about their own walk with Christ, their love for lost people, and the testimony their lives present each day. It was a compelling reminder that following Jesus means choosing His approval over the world's acceptance while living with both unwavering truth and genuine compassion. This message offers biblical encouragement for every believer seeking to faithfully navigate today's culture. Listen as Pastor Paul Bailey explains how God's people can remain consecrated to Christ, compassionate toward others, and committed to shining His light in a world that desperately needs the hope of the gospel.

See All (192)

About

Bible teaching and preaching from the pulpit of West Georgia Apostolic Tabernacle and our online ministry The Modern Pew.

Information

  • Creator
    From the Pulpit
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    192
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Modern Pew
  • Show Website
    The Modern Pew