The Darker the Night…The Greater the Light (Matthew 5:14-16)
Matthew 5:14-16, Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. The island of Fiji is known for more than its drinking water. The island has thousands of species of plant and animal life which make it a fascinating place to visit. One of the most captivating things in Fiji is a dark, branch-like coral which grows 1,000 feet below the surface of the water. At this depth, very little sunlight reaches the ocean floor. Somehow the coral is able to sense this light, and as the sun follows its daily East-to-West circuit, the coral’s branches follow it. Even a dry piece of this coral will follow the light of a candle. This is nothing short of astonishing. Like light-hungry corals in a sea of darkness, people are desperate for truth. If the church was not in the earth, the whole world would be in a state of corruption and utter darkness. If we bring the Gospel, they will follow the light. God may bring a seeking lost person to the light you bear, but He often acts in reverse by bringing the light to the lost. In other words, He sends light-bearers like you and me to people in need of salvation. As long as there are feet to carry it and lips to proclaim it, the Gospel will continue to enlighten the world. The light is to be placed where its influence can be best used and felt. The question is, are you willing to carry the light as the Holy Spirit bids you? C. H. Spurgeon says, “True shining is silent, but yet it is so useful, that men ... are forced to bless God for the good which they receive ... when they mark the good works of His saints.” It ought to be our constant prayer and desire before God that He would give us grace to be useful to others, to improve the lives of those whose paths we cross, to make them happier and better for having come into contact with us. Christianity is not a show of religion, but a life of devotion to Christ. It is our responsibility to give out the Light of the Gospel, that we may glorify God, our Father. Every day the Lord allows us opportunities for reaching the lost. The reality is that we don’t even have to go out of our way to find them. Unsaved people are at the coffee shop, department store check-out lines, bank windows, automobile dealerships, telemarketers, grocery stores, your doctor’s office, and even a few doors down the street. Questions to Consider: Can they sense the light in my life? What is preventing me from bringing the light to them? Who can I share the Gospel message with today? Points to Ponder: They will follow if I will only lead the way. Help me to cast my fears aside, that I may boldly proclaim Your name today. Every community, city, state, and nation are to be illuminated by the light of believers. PRAYER: Father, thank You for bringing me to a saving faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ. That is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. I confess there have been times that I have been silenced by my fear of rejection. I have wanted it both ways; to be an effective preacher without facing rejection. Bring people into my life that I can talk about Your amazing love. Help me to reflect Your light and love to those You allow me to encounter. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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KING JESUS WINS! (Matthew 25:31-33)
Matthew 25:31-33, When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. If you are listening to the media, it appears that Satan is winning this war and that we are without hope. However, I have great news…the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible is true, infallible, flawless, never outdated because its prophetic pages are happening even as you read this devotion. The events happening around us today have already been spoken of within the pages of the Scriptures. God is over the affairs of men. It is He who puts rulers on their throne and removes them at His will. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible proclaims that Jesus Christ is the Saviour and those who will repent of their sin and put their trust in Him will have everlasting life with Him in Heaven. The Son of Man is coming to judge. John 5:22, For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: When Jesus comes, He is coming in glory, as the Son of Man and as the King of the universe. When Jesus comes, He is coming with ten thousands of his saints (Jude 14). An innumerable number will accompany Him, demonstrating the glory and honor rightly due Him (Daniel 7:10). The holy angels will be the attendants and ministers of His justice. When Jesus comes, He is coming to be enthroned. When He sits upon "the throne of His glory," He sits in judgment. He will become the Judge of the whole universe, the Judge who is exalted above all. Revelation 20:11-12, And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. When Jesus comes, He is coming to gather all nations. All men will be gathered by the angels and brought before Him. Everyone will be gathered before Him in judgment. Judgment is coming. It is inevitable. It cannot be avoided nor evaded. No person can escape the coming judgment. The day is coming when everyone on earth will stand before Christ at the judgment. Like me, you will one day stand before the LORD and give an account of your life. Because God is perfect and just, He is going to judge us according to His Law. We have all broken God’s Moral Law (lying, stealing, hate, lust. selfishness, blasphemy, etc.) and we are going to be found guilty. He will have to punish us for our sins; the consequence being an eternity in Hell. But there is good news! God provided an escape. Jesus Christ, the Messiah and God manifest in the flesh, took the punishment that we, as guilty sinners, deserve when He suffered under God the Father’s wrath and died on the cross. He then defeated death by rising from the dead. God commands us to repent (to turn away from our sins) and trust in Jesus alone to save us, because no amount of good works will ever be enough to get us into Heaven. Jesus said, “ye must be born again” (John 3:7). Christ is now sitting on the throne at the right hand of God. There is a difference between the throne of grace and the throne of judgment pictured in this passage. We can now come to the throne of grace for help (Hebrews 4:16). But one day it will be too late to receive help. At this time, His throne will be a throne of judgment to which there will be no approach apart from judgment. Please consider this message. You may not have tomorrow. Revelation 22:20b, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. People get ready….Jesus is coming! WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO SHARE THIS DEVOTION WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN; WITH WHATEVER RESOURCES YOU HAVE AVAILABLE? www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Spiritual FitBit (Psalm 37:23)
Psalm 37:23, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. The FitBit was launched to the market in 2008 and has done very well. The FitBit monitors your heart rate, counts calories burned, records distance, counts steps, and other features. What’s impressive is that it motivates people to actively work out and become a healthier person. And yes, we all want to be healthier. The Lord wants us to be healthier both physically and spiritually. How can we become more spiritually fit? Psalm 37:23, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. The thought then is how the path of a good man is established by the Lord. The word ordered has the basic idea of being ‘prepared’ or ‘established.’ God will guide and direct our steps. Walking in the Spirit involves at least three key characteristics. They are direction, dependency, and dedication and are just as necessary in our spiritual walk. 1. Direction – (Psalm 32:8) Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. When we walk, we do so because we are headed somewhere. That is direction. God has promised to instruct us and guide us in the way we should go. That guidance is by His very omniscient eye. He who knows all and sees all knows far better than we the path to take. 2. Dependency – (Proverbs 3:5-6) Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. When we walk, we put one foot in front of another, leaning all of our weight on one leg for each step. That is dependency. How often are we tempted to rely upon our own understanding of the issues of life. God’s advice is to trust in the Lord with all our hearts. In every decision and juncture of life, God’s wisdom is to trust Him or look to Him. Life is full of forks in the road. An individual who continually seeks God’s direction for each decision will never go wrong. We often get into trouble because we rely upon our own understanding for decisions which must be made. How can we go wrong when His guidance is so readily available? 3. Dedication - (Matthew 16:24) Matthew 16:24, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me". That is the way it should be for all of us if we want to live a victorious Christian life. When we walk and are attempting to go somewhere, we take continuous steps. One step is not walking. Continuous steps are. You have to keep taking steps in order to get someplace. That is dedication. True disciples are few in number. To be a disciple of Jesus Christ, there must be denial of self as well as a willingness to suffer even unto death. Being a disciple of Jesus Christ requires total dedication and self-denial. The word deny means to lose sight of one’s self and one’s own interests. III John 4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. God delights in the path of the righteous. Even as a parent delights in the steps of an obedient child, so does our Heavenly Father. In the Bible, God gives us specific instructions on what He wants us to do and where He wants us to go. Psalm 23:3b, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. The Holy Spirit will lead you in your daily walk with the Lord. Galatians 5:25, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Obeying and following His leading will help you immensely in living a victorious Christian life. PRAYER, Father in Heaven, thank You that You can be counted on to guide me through my day. Today I need to walk in the hope that only You can give. My way is unclear, my path sometimes feels like it twists and turns in confusing and busy ways as I wind my way along my journey. Show me Your ways, Lord. Show me how You would walk in these places. Remind me by Your Holy Spirit to look to You to guide me. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Spiritual Melatonin (Psalm 3:1-8)
Psalm 3:4-5, I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. David sensed the degree of the trouble that was brewing and he was fearful. As storm clouds were gathering around his life, David’s only resort was to turn to the Lord. In today’s world with all of the pressures of life, often we find it hard to have peace that we may find rest. Too often, believers are worn down spiritually due to the lack of rest in the Lord. A lesson remains for us to this day. When troubles mount, we can always turn to God for help. In Psalm 3, we find truths that act as spiritual sleep aids when we focus our attention on the Lord. 1. God Surrounds You like a Shield (Psalm 3:1-3). Psalm 3:1-2 sets the stage of David’s trial. Absalom’s deception amongst the kingdom through his smooth speech turned David’s peaceful reign into wartime terror (II Samuel 15). As a result, terror overtook David’s heart as the insurgents mocked him and God’s so-called protection. When the circumstances of life become fertile ground for anxiety and fear to grow in your heart, make a pivotal change in your focus. Turn from the allegations of the wicked to unshakable truth about God. Say to God, “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.” Fight fear with the greater fear of fearing God above. Know that, in Christ, God is not against you, but He is for you. He will never leave you, nor forsake you. The Lord has proven Himself faithful to me more times than I can count. He will do the same for you. Trust Him. 2. God Sustains You by Your Sleep (Psalm 3:4-6). David, in child-like trust in God as his protector, led to constant prayer in Psalm 3:4. Cry out to God. Tell Him all your fears. Hide nothing from Him. He knows it all already. When the trials of life threaten to overtake your faith, run to the Lord. Do not cease to cry out to Him for help regardless of the insults of the ungodly people who surround you. He will answer you, as He answered David, and will sustain you with peaceful sleep. God was the source of David's peace. God can give peace regardless of circumstances. God kept David from going to pieces. God was David's tranquility. Sometimes we wonder how some can carry their trials so well. The answer is that the Lord sustains them in their trials. This kind of rest in the Lord produces confidence. Let Psalm 3:5-6 become your personal testimony. 3. God Secures You with His Salvation (Psalm 3:7-8). David reveals his confidence in Lord for salvation. He knew that no matter what his enemies attempted to do to him that God always gets the final word. It is the Lord who would strike down David’s enemies. Salvation belongs to the Lord. God cares for those who belong to Him. Though He often leads us through deep waters and dark valleys, His blessing is on His people. There is no reason to fear. Look to Him. Go back to bed. My soul, lay down and sleep. PRAYER: Lord, the times I rest in Your care, I find labor in Your service is easy. Help me refuse to resist when I get exhausted. Rather, help me to draw closer to Christ by taking His yoke and centering my service on Him alone. May I learn of Him and to study His ways and rest in His fullness. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Oh, How He Loves You and Me! (John 11:36)
John 11:36, Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! Oh, how He loves you and me, Oh how He loves you and me. He gave His life, what more could He give? Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how He loves me; Oh, how He loves you and me. Jesus to Calvary did go, His love for sinners to show. What He did there brought hope from despair. Oh, how He loves you; Oh, how He loves me; Oh, how He loves you and me. It is said that one of the most distinguished statesmen of the times of the American Revolution was once a hopeless drunkard. He had been engaged to a beautiful girl, but his debauchery had compelled her to break the engagement and sever herself from his influence, which was dragging her down. She had not ceased to love him, or to pray for him. One day she was passing along a road. She saw him lying intoxicated by the sidewalk, his face exposed to the blistering sun, and swollen with drink and exposure. Her tender heart was moved, and, as she passed by, she took her handkerchief and gently spread it over his face. An few hours later he awoke and saw the handkerchief and her name stiched on the corner of it. He arose to his feet, and a cheerful thrill of hope and courage came to his heart. "She loves me still," he said, "all is not yet lost. For her sake I will redeem my life." And he did. Oh how much more power there is in the love of Christ to save lost men from despair, if they can only believe that He loves them! He left us the Bible, His love letter to us. 1. Jesus Loves You Eternally. There never was a time when He did not love you. His love for His own is without beginning and without end. It is eternal. 2. Jesus Loves You Perseveringly. Though we sinned in Adam, were born in sin and lived in sin by deliberate choice, His love for us was never broken. Though we sin still, after experiencing His grace, His love does not cease or grow cold. His love is patient, longsuffering, lasting and enduring. God will never cease to love those whom He has always loved. His love is immutable. 3. Jesus Loves You Sacrificially. ‘Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us.’ I know that God is good and kind to all men. His compassion reaches to all people. He will not stand idly by and allow one soul whom He loves to perish when He has the power to save that soul! He so loved us that He voluntarily laid down His life in our place! So mighty is His love that, when He knew the price of our souls was His own precious blood, He willingly poured out His life’s blood to redeem us! 4. Jesus Loves You Satisfyingly. His love will be satisfied. He will never lose the object of His love. He will give us all that we can need or desire for all of eternity. He will withhold no good thing from His own. In that great day which is yet to come, God’s creation will stand back in awe and wonder and say, concerning His redeemed people, ‘Behold how he loved them!' PRAYER: Lord thank You for loving me unconditionally with a supernatural love. May my love for You be shown in my love for those You have given me. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Up and At It for The Lord (Acts 8:30-31)
Acts 8:30-31, And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. John Heinz, born in 1844 to German immigrants in Pittsburg, PA, was an industrious teenager. He turned a business of selling horseradish grown in his mother's garden into the largest pickle and condiment manufacturing company in the world. In 1875, a national financial collapse drove the young company into bankruptcy. Despite the legal freedom bankruptcy gave him, Heinz regarded each of the company’s outstanding debts as a moral obligation and personally paid back every penny. H. J. Heinz built his company to be a people-oriented place. Heinz went on to found the H.J. Heinz Company with its 57 varieties and became a leading American businessman. A devout Christian, he was known for the generous treatment of his employees and his generosity to Christian causes. Throughout his life, Heinz conducted his business and personal dealings with the same integrity that led him to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars he technically did not have to pay back. It is said that no fairer, franker man in business affairs ever lived. He helped promote the Pure Food and Drug Act in the U.S., which greatly enhanced the quality of processed foods. His epigram was that every successful business must be "run from the heart." His other memorable saying was: "Make all you can honestly, save all you can prudently, and give all you can wisely." One day at an evangelistic service the speaker challenged Heinz saying, "You are a believer but with all your energy why aren't you up and at it for the Lord?" The young businessman went home in anger. That night he couldn't sleep. At four o'clock in the morning he prayed that God would use him to lead others to Christ. Soon afterwards, at a meeting of bank presidents, Heinz turned to the man next to him and told him of his joy in knowing Jesus. His friend looked at him in surprise and said, "Because I knew you were a Christian, I've wondered many times why you never spoke to me about salvation." That man became the first of 267 people H. J. Heinz eventually led to Jesus Christ. In Acts 8, God directEd Philip to a roadside encounter with an Ethiopian court official who stood reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip met him in the middle of a desert, not by coincidence. In the Scripture, we see that the Holy Spirit prompted Philip to “go over and join the chariot.” Philip ran to the man and founding him reading from the book of Isaiah and, much like my interaction with the young man in the parking garage, the Ethiopian man expressed his desire to know more about what the Scripture was saying. As one reads through the chapter, it is clear that Philip seized the opportunity to explain the Scripture and proclaim the good news of the Gospel to the man. We see even further evidence that the man responded in faith to the Gospel because we see him pursuing baptism straight away. QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
POINTS TO PONDER:
PRAYER: Father, thank You for Your wonderful gift of the Gospel. Help me to keep my eyes and ears open to Your leading to help share what has so impacted me. Give me the courage and the words to share with any person You direct me to meet. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Great Commission is Not Out of Commission (Matthew 28:19-20)
Matthew 28:19-20, Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Coca-Cola was introduced to the world on January 29, 1892 and has been around for over 128 years. Coca-Cola is very adamant about getting their product around the world. The Coca-Cola company did that in just over 100 years. They made it so that almost every person on earth knows their name. There are now just two countries in the world where Coca-Cola cannot be bought or sold - at least, not officially. They are Cuba and North Korea. In the beginning, Coca-Cola had cocaine in it, in varying amounts. At the time cocaine was legal and treated as a medicine. Coca-Cola’s goal is simple. They want everyone to get addicted to their drink. Coke seems to be willing to try any marketing strategy in its attempts to get their product into everyone’s hands. They are willing to use catch phrases, commercials, and slogans. Coke has had 48 different slogans. Perhaps the most famous is “It's the Real Thing”. Coke is one of the largest advertisers in the world, spending on ads about $3.3 billion a year worldwide. In 1985, when business became slow and losing market value, Coca-Cola out of desperation, decided to change their identity, and label. “New Coke” began and it was a failure. The change was met with much criticism and negativity and Coke later changed its label to Coca-Cola Classic. We have the Word of God and Jesus Christ. He never changes. Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Therefore, we do not need to change the message. We have every opportunity to get the Gospel to the lost. We have had the gospel for 2,000 years. How are there still entire countries in this world where the name of Jesus is practically unknown? Has a soft drink company really been more passionate about selling their drink than we have been about sharing news of free eternal life? Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” According to current demographics, 90% of the world has heard about Coke, 71% of the world has seen Coke, 50% of the world has tasted Coke, but only 10% of the world has heard the Gospel of Christ. God’s goal for giving to missions through His local church empowers His plan increase and gives every individual believer an opportunity to have a part in reaching others for Christ. Let's not fail in our mission to do the Great Commission. Christ has sent us, now we need to reach others and share the Gospel with them. If we don't, multitudes of people will spend eternity separated from God because no one told them. Nothing you accomplish in life will have a larger or longer lasting impact than leading people to Christ. Let's share the Gospel with someone today and determine to be better witnesses of God's plan of salvation. Every Christian needs to let others know that Jesus Christ came into the world to bring salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. We have a wonderful opportunity to be a part of God's plan and program that has eternal value. That is where we need to put our attention and focus. May we find and obey the task that He has called us to do. Point to Ponder: The Great Commission is a command, not a “Great Suggestion.” Question to Consider: What are you doing to take part in the work of spreading the message of Christ with the world? PRAYER: Father, help me to become a more disciplined laborer in the field. I submit my availability to Your authority. May Your Holy Spirit guide me to souls who are open to receive Your truth. Help me to bring forth lasting fruit for Your pleasure and glory. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Benefits of Waiting on God (Isaiah 40:31)
Isaiah 40:31, But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. A young boy went to the local store with his mother. The shop owner, a kindly man, passed him a large jar of suckers and invited him to help himself to a handful. Uncharacteristically, the boy held back. So the shop owner pulled out a handful for him. When outside, the boy's mother asked why he had suddenly been so shy and wouldn't take a handful of suckers when offered. The boy replied, "Because his hand is much bigger than mine!" It's been said that waiting is not just the thing we have to do until we get what we hope for. Waiting is the process of becoming what we hope for." There are things to be learned while we wait on God that can't be learned at any other time. We need to learn to trust Him despite circumstances, or to be content with what we have or don't have in light of all that He promises. These lessons, when embraced, will work in us a deeper level of trust and a greater capacity for resting in God. So, while you wait for what you hope for, allow the Lord to accomplish the things for which He hopes for you. “Quiet waiting before God would save from many a mistake and many a sorrow.” —J. Hudson Taylor Isaiah 40:31 encourages you to wait on the Lord for strength in every stage of life. Young people need strength to soar up like an eagle. Middle-aged people need strength to run and not grow weary. In your golden years you need strength to walk and not faint. When we wait upon the Lord, we shall renew our strength. The word "renew" means "to change, to pass from one state to another, or to exchange." When we wait on God, we exchange our weakness for His strength. What we cannot do, He can. What we cannot see, He can. When we are weak, with His strength, we become strong. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. God never ceases His care and concern for us. While He is aware of what is said by all, and misses absolutely nothing, He especially tunes in to His children. He has a heart for the cries of our hearts. He is the God Who hears and answers our prayers. May you sense His great love for and pure interest in you today. Even young men in the prime of life become tired, weary, and even fall. As children of the Lord, if we will wait upon Him, He has promised to restore our strength. The word wait, carries the idea to ‘trust the Lord and then wait for Him to act.’ Implied is resting and relying upon Him. As we trust Him, rest upon Him, and then wait upon Him, He will renew our strength. That was true then. It is true to this day. We are to trust Him, rely upon Him, and then wait upon Him to act. As we do, He has promised to renew our strength. The promise, without doubt, applies to spiritual strength. But it also likely applies to emotional strength, mental strength, and even physical strength. Waiting upon Him is trusting Him which is faith. Blessed are they that trust in Him! Simply wait on him. So doing, we shall be directed, supplied, protected, corrected, and rewarded —Vance Havner. The most muscular and mighty men may faint under strain and utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall: 1. Renew their strength. 2. Mount up with wings as eagles. 3. Run and not be weary. 4. Walk and not faint. I don't know your heart today. You may be weary. You may be tired. You may feel like you have had about all you can stand, and you may wonder if anything else could happen. You may have said, “I don't see how I can stand one thing more.” You are in the walking stage, and if you wait on the LORD, you will not faint, for He is able to renew your strength, and He is able to give power to him who has no might. This is our God. Look at Him. Enjoy Him, and recognize Him as your own. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, help me to have the wisdom to learn to trust You and wait for Your timing. Give me peace during my season of affliction. Lord, I choose to trust You and wait for You to act. Please give me rest and peace, In Jesus name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Taming Your Temper (Proverbs 15:18)
Proverbs 15:18, A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. In the spring of 1894, the Baltimore Orioles came to Boston to play a routine baseball game, but what happened that day was anything but routine. The Orioles' John McGraw got into a fight with the Boston third baseman. Within minutes all the players from both teams had joined in the brawl. The warfare quickly spread to the grandstands. Among the fans the conflict went from bad to worse. Someone set fire to the stands and the entire ballpark burned to the ground. Not only that, but the fire spread to 107 other Boston buildings as well. It has been rightly said that when your temper boils over, you usually end up in hot water. We have seen that in our lives over and over again. It never pays to lose your temper. If you're angry, you'll say or do something you'll wish you never had said. The consequences of your rage may affect you and the lives of others for the rest of your life because you behaved foolishly. A man that is quick-tempered does things without stopping to consider the consequences of his actions. He may shoot off his mouth with curses or insults, slam doors, or throw whatever is at hand to express his rage. The thought is how that one with a quick temper stirs up trouble. In contrast, one who controls his temper and is slow to anger pacifies potential trouble. A hot temper is never a virtue. It inevitably ignites even worse trouble. The Biblical concept of meekness is of one who controls his emotions and certainly his temper. The latter tends to put out fires of strife while the former ignites them. Not all anger is wrong. Controlled anger rouses us to stand against injustice and corruption. The anger of Jesus caused Him to flush the money-changers from the Temple area. The person who has a short fuse and loses self control when he gets angry is the one who behaves foolishly and behaves in such a way where his actions lead to failure. 10 Warnings about man's unrighteous anger: (1) It causes one to do foolish things (Proverbs 14:17). (2) It is the result of pride (Proverbs 13:10). (3) It poisons others (Proverbs 22:24-25). (4) It stirs up strife and sin (Proverbs 15:18; 29:22). (5) It results in punishment (Proverbs 19:19). (6) It can be tempered with soft words (Proverbs 15:1). (7) God warns about becoming friends with an angry man (Proverbs 22:24-25). (8) Control of anger requires that one have rule over his own spirit (Proverbs 16:32; 25:28). (9) A man's wisdom causes him to control his anger (Proverbs 19:11). (10) It is to be put away from the Christian's life (Colossians 3:8). Prayer, Father in Heaven, You know the struggles I have with anger and bitterness. You know the reasons I wrestle with resentment. You know how deep the hurt goes and how long I have lived with it. But I don’t want to live with it any longer. I don’t want to be an angry, resentful and bitter person. With Your help, I release my anger into Your hands. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Lifting Up Your Pastor in Prayer (Exodus 17:9-13)
Exodus 17:9-13, And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. In Exodus 17, Moses had his hands lifted toward Heaven, no doubt holding that staff in his hands, and the children of Israel prevailed in battle. When his arms would lower due to fatigue, the Amalekites gained the advantage. However, Aaron and Hur stepped forth and held the hands of Moses up until the battle was won. The task Hur accomplished that day may not sound like a lot, however, had it not been for the work of this man, Moses would not have had the strength to do his job and Joshua would never have been able to lead Israel to victory in the battle. Had they not been there, the battle would have been lost and Israel would have been defeated! 1. Members like Hur are Absolutely Precious Preachers spend hours praying and preparing their sermons. Meanwhile, the congregation spends hours before the Lord in their prayer closets lifting up the hands of God’s men. In the church, there is a number of people who are praying, fasting, and carrying the load. No price could ever be placed on what people like Hur are worth to the church! 2. Members like Hur are Always Participating Hur wasn't a great leader like Moses. He wasn't a great General like Joshua. He wasn't a great High Priest like Aaron. He wasn't a warrior like those in the army. He was just Hur. The Bible doesn’t tell us much about Hur. However, what he did he did willingly, actively and faithfully. He could hold up hands and he did the best job he could! We are all essential to the proper functioning of the body of Christ! There is a great work to do and there is room for all who want to be involved in the Lord's work. Although we can’t do everything, remember, that the Lord has placed us in His body in the place that pleased Him (I Corinthians 12:4-27). It isn’t important if you can’t do what others can do, it is important that you do what you can do. Thank God for those people who know they can't do everything, but are determined to do something! When the enemy strikes, our only hope is the LORD. Daily, dependable prayer is the fundamental foundation of the successful Christian life. The measure of any Christian is their prayer life. The lifting of Moses’ raised hands was a sign of intercession. “Moses’ hands grew heavy” (Exodus 17:12). Jesus never gets tired of interceding for us! “He ever liveth to make intercession for us” (Hebrews 7:25). While we fight the good fight of faith (I Timothy 6:12), He intercedes for us (Romans 8:34)! In our battles we also must go to the throne of God holding up our hands and saying, “LORD, this is out of my control. I need Your help” We all need holding up. We all need our arms, or our faith, supported up by the arms, or faith, of another. Like Moses, Aaron, and Hur, we are all part of the great “cloud of witnesses” and it is our responsibility to point others to Christ, while at the same time, keeping your eyes on the LORD (Hebrews 12:1-2). Nothing means as much to us minister’s than the Hur’s within the congregation who are holding our hands up in prayer. Who can you lift up today? You can start lifting up those around you right now by encouragement and edification. You’ll find that while you are lifting up others, you yourself are being lifted! PRAYER: Lord, I humbly ask You to graciously restore within me the spirit of supplication and intercession. Forgive me for ignoring this important work, and grant me a heart that desires to pray. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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