Elisabeth…A Mother Honored (Luke 1:5-7)
Luke 1:5-7, “There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.” Elisabeth was righteous toward God and most faithful to her husband. It is said of both Elisabeth and Zacharias that they were “…righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless." They had a personal faith in God and sought to follow Him every day. Elisabeth was a fit vessel for the forerunner of Christ as she was blameless in every commandment of the LORD. Being blameless does not mean perfect or sinless; it means to be irreproachable or faultless. They were faithful, living in such a way that no one could charge them with open sin. They offended no one and lived honestly before both God and men. When we read the life of Elisabeth and her husband, Zacharias, we find them both "well stricken in years". However, wonderful surprises were awaiting this godly couple. God would do what seemed impossible and bless Elisabeth and Zacharias by bringing joy into their home through the birth of John the Baptist. Elisabeth became the mother of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus Christ. Both Elisabeth and Zacharias were of the priestly tribe of Levi. Zacharias’ name means, "the Lord has remembered," and Elisabeth’s name means, "my God has remembered." Elisabeth was barren. She had no children, and no hope of having any children because both she and her husband were both “well stricken in years”, most likely at least sixty years of age. In their day, sixty was considered the beginning of agedness, and they were likely well past that. God is never late, nor is He ever too early. He is always on time, working according to His timing that is always perfect. God promised them a son and would deliver the promise through His messenger, the angel, Gabriel (Luke 1:11-13). God promised that at the birth of John, Zacharias and Elisabeth would experience great joy and gladness, and many would join them in their rejoicing (Luke 1:14, 58). When Elisabeth visited Mary, “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost” (Luke 1:41). The Holy Spirit does not fill rebels or renegades. He fills those whose desires are only to please God. Elisabeth would in fact bear a son (Luke 1:57), and they were to name him John (John 1:13, 60), a name that means "The Lord has been gracious" or "to whom the Lord is gracious." Luke 1:80, “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.” Zacharias and Elisabeth raised John for a time. Their faith, their prayers, and the things God had taught them doubtless touched John. That, coupled with the touch of God on his life, helped him become strong in spirit. Luke 7:28, “For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” What an honor to John and to his mother, Elisabeth, for Christ to say this! Elisabeth proved to be a great blessing and encouragement to Mary. As Christians, we should never be satisfied with being just average spiritually. We should strive to be obedient to all the commandments of God. When we live within God’s will, loving Him supremely and obeying all His commandments, He will bless us and use us to bless others in ways we could never imagine. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I praise You and exalt You as the Lord of Life. Thank You that Your timing is always right, even when I want You to hurry up. Thank You that You do not bow to my schedule. Thank You that when You say "No" to my request, You are really saying "Yes" to Your best in my life. You are working out Your will. Help me love You more so I can be a blessing to those around me. May I learn to trust You as I wait on Your best. I love You. 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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Saturating A City with the Gospel (Acts 5:26-29)
Acts 5:26-29, “Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them, 28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us, 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” The apostles were retrieved from the Temple and brought before the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the Jewish Supreme Court consisting of a total of 70 members and the High Priest who was in charge. In the time of Christ, this court was very corrupt. The Sanhedrin had total jurisdiction over all the theological and religious matters in Israel. The high priest despised the name of Jesus so much that they would not even mention His name. Don’t miss the fact that the whole council was opposed to the work of God through His church, but its ringleader was the high priest. Truth mattered little if any to these leaders. The apostles were charged with several offenses. They were charged with defiance to the commands of the council. They were charged with insubordination (they defied the command to not teach in the name of Jesus). They were charged with indoctrination (they filled Jerusalem with the doctrine of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ). They were charged with incrimination (they intended to bring the guilt of the death upon the people). They had broken the specific law that the name and resurrection of Jesus Christ was not to be preached according to Acts 4:18. Believers are sometimes forbidden to speak for their Lord by governments, businesses, fellow workers, schools, institutions, and neighbors. This is in direct conflict with the Lord's command (Acts 1:4, 8). We also find the apostles' victory in speaking the truth. They told the Jews and their religious leaders the truth of what they did to Jesus. They killed the Messiah. The high priest conveniently forgot that he and his associates had said to Pilate, "His blood be upon us and on our children!" (Matthew 27:25). They were only getting what they had asked Pilate to give to them. The council had commanded the apostles not to teach in the name of Jesus and yet they defied the council. God called and Spirit filled preachers will magnify and exalt the name of Jesus. One of the greatest questions facing every Christian is not, “Is this particular thing or activity convenient, pleasurable or popular with people?” but, “Is this particular thing or activity right with God and is it what He desires?” Those who aim always to please people will never be able to please God (Galatians 1:10). The apostles were rebuked and they reminded them, "We commanded you to not teach in Jesus name!" Then they had to admit the victory of the apostles in filling the city of Jerusalem with the doctrine of Christ and His Gospel. Despite the external persecution and internal problems, the apostles kept on teaching and preaching. To saturate a city is not easy to do at all, but these men of God did it through the power of God and hard work. Jesus was the talk of the town. Can you imagine what America would be like if Jesus was the talk of every town and people were excited about Him? Following and serving Jesus will give you many opportunities in life to testify and witness before all kinds of people. The apostles did not hold back. They were not intimidated into silence. They looked them in the eyes and boldly told them the facts without fear or hesitation. The eternal destiny of these people was at stake. They needed to be saved and the only way to reach them was to reveal to them their sin and their solution...Jesus Christ. John Phillips wrote, “There was a higher court in Israel than the Sanhedrin: the Supreme Court of Heaven. The God of heaven had sent His Son into the world; He had sent His Spirit into the world; He had now sent His servants into the world. The Sanhedrin had no authority to forbid them to preach in the name of Jesus. They knew it. The apostles knew it. It was simply a question of loyalty.” Christians today struggle to share the Gospel with unsaved friends and family because of fear and intimidation. If you can overcome that fear, you have won a great victory. If you can saturate a city with the Gospel, you have won a great victory. Not all people will be saved, but if you can at least give people the opportunity to hear or read the Gospel, you have achieved, with God's help, a victory. Points to Ponder: We will face these same problems throughout our ministry, yet we too should keep on keeping on. Help us to fear and hate sin because we fear and love God, who is holy! We must obey God by proclaiming and teaching that Jesus Christ is the risen Saviour and Lord. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to remain steadfast to preach Your Word and minister to others. 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 The Importance of Spiritual Purity (Romans 2:23-25)
Romans 2:23-25, “Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.” One night in China, missionary C.L. Culpepper stayed up late for his devotions, but as he tried to pray, he felt like stone. Uncomfortable spiritually and not willing to remain in this current state. He asked, "Lord, what is the matter?" He opened his Bible and read from Romans 2:17-25. Culpepper said the Holy Spirit used these verses like a sword to cut deeply into his heart. The Spirit of God convicted him of hypocrisy, a lack of power and ineffectiveness for Christ. Culpepper awakened his wife and they prayed into the night. The next morning, at a prayer meeting with fellow workers, he confessed his pride and spiritual impotence, saying his heart was broken. The Holy Spirit began to convict others of sin so much they could hardly bear it. Revival began to break out in the seminary, schools, hospitals, and area churches as people got right with God and one another. The result of the Shantung Revival was the growth of churches as many got right with God and many were won to Christ. The effect of this passage on Culpepper was the same goal the Holy Spirit had for the readers of the letter to the Romans. God wanted them to have a change in focus and a change in heart. This was the punch in the long noses of those who were self righteous. It wasn't the possession of the Law, but the practice of it that mattered. Paul, drove his case forcibly against self-righteous Jews. The Jews rested in the Law and trusted it for their righteousness. They boasted that they knew God, knew His will, and chose a higher morality in life because they were “instructed out of the law” each week at the synagogue. They believed they were morally superior to everyone else. Paul wanted them to stop comparing themselves, stop focusing on the faults of others, and start looking at themselves. Adultery, idolatry, and theft can also be done in the heart. They preached against stealing, yet were guilty of dishonesty in their personal affairs. They preached against adultery, but were secretly guilty of immorality themselves. They preached against idolatry, but profited from secret dealings with shrines of idols. It’s worth noting that hypocrisy deceives the hypocrite, damages unbelievers, and dishonors God. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace, because the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. The carnal mind is opposed to God, to all that He is. A carnal mind has no interest in the law of God nor in trying to live as God wishes. The carnal mind wants to live as it wishes and do its own thing. The carnal man wants to indulge his flesh, whether by food, sex, pride, power, position, money, recognition, fame, or self-righteousness. Most carnal minds are influenced heavily by their environment and those around them. If their friends are materialistic or immoral, they focus upon the same. Few carnal minds ever break away from their environment and friends. Only the Spirit of God can penetrate the human mind and set it free from the flesh and its carnal passions. The Bible teaches that we cannot please God if we do not have a right relationship with Him (Romans 8:8). We are to be right before men but also real before God. Lip-service and life-service are to go hand-in-hand. Our Sunday Christianity should be the same as Monday's. Our inward attitude is what is important to the Lord. God wants our heart and He changes it when we give it to Him. Ezekiel 11:19, “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh.” II Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Prayer: Father, my desire is to please and honor You in my daily walk with You before others. I know that there is not one thing that I ever perform or ponder that is concealed from You. As You examine my heart, help me to live a life of holiness, honesty, and humility. I ask for strength, patience, and wisdom as I aim to practice Your Word. 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 What To Do When Our Problems Arise (Psalm 55:22-23)
Psalm 55:22-23, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. 23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.” We all have problems. As Christians, we have a relationship with God that gives us insight, wisdom, and power to see an opportunity in every difficulty! Too many of us don’t want to leave our secure comfort zones. Instead, we want God to turn our problems into possibilities while we sit by and watch Him work. Our problems will remain problems as long as we refuse to commit to whatever God asks us to do. No matter what your hurt, God can turn it into a hallelujah. He can turn every tear into a pearl and every dark night into a sunrise. Christianity is not the subtraction of problems; it is the addition of power to overcome the problems. May God help you to see the possibilities for great potential in your problems! Wilmer McLean was a small farmer in the Shenandoah Valley in 1861. In the spring of that year two powerful armies met on his property—the Union army under General McDowell and the Confederate army under General Beauregard. The bloodiest war in American history began at Bull Run, a creek that ran through McLean's property. McLean was not at all sure why the armies were fighting, but he was quite sure he did not want them fighting on his property. If he could not change the course of the war, he at least did not have to be part of it. McLean decided to sell out and go where the war would never find him. He chose the most obscure place in the whole country—or so he thought: an old house in the village of Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Four years later General Grant was pursuing General Lee through Virginia. In Appomattox County, Grant sent a message to Lee asking him to meet and sign a truce. The place where they met to sign the truce that ended the Civil War was Wilmer McLean's living room! Like Mr. McLean, no matter where we run, we can't run from God, from problems, or the consequences of our sin. The Lord will always catch up with us and so will our sin. Psalm 55:6, “And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.” Psalm 55 is a psalm of “complaint” (Psalm 55:2) by David and gives an insight into his thought process as he tried to deal with the great problems and burdens that were overwhelming him. His first impulse was to run away from them, flying like a dove far off into the wilderness. Then, David decided to criticize those who were causing him trouble and to complain about them to the Lord. Psalm 55:17, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” The words “pray”, and “cry aloud” here actually mean “complain and mourn.” Finally, the Lord gave him an answer, and David found the rest for which he had been so fretfully searching. Psalm 55:22, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:23, “But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee.” The way to deal with problems is not to flee from them or to fret about them but to turn them over to the Lord: I Peter 5:7, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” God often uses the problems that surround us to encourage others in life's struggles. He uses the problems we face victoriously to encourage other Christians to live courageously and victoriously. Stop looking at how big your problems are and start looking at how big God is. Jeremiah 32:17, “There is nothing too hard for thee…” Absolutely nothing is too difficult for God. Refuse to focus on the seemingly unsolvable problems you face. Focus continually on God Who can solve problems that seem to have no solution. God is so mighty and powerful that He was able to raise Jesus Christ from the dead and sit Jesus next to Him in Heaven. If God was able to do this, He certainly can solve whatever problems you face. When you face difficult problems that seem to have no solution, you must have absolute faith that your Father knows exactly what to do to solve these problems. Refuse to give up. When you cannot see any way out of the problems you face, your Father can see the way out. He will guide you out of these seemingly impossible problems if you trust Him completely. He will lead you down paths that you know nothing of. He will turn darkness into light. He will never forsake you or leave you. Meditate on these truths pertaining to God's mighty power. Refuse to allow any problems you face to seem greater than God. Nothing is greater than Almighty God. Place all of your trust in Him. PRAYER: Lord, I thank You that You are the God of the impossible. I have nothing to fear with You on my side. I want to trust in Your ability and not my own. Help me to focus on You and Your power. Help me to be strong and courageous even in the difficult times. I choose to have faith in Your ability to break through every obstacle in my life. In Jesus name, Amen! AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Same Mind One Toward Another (Romans 12:16)
Romans 12:16, “Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.” 1. The believer is to “be of the same mind one toward another”. We are admonished to be of the same attitude toward others. Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” The believer is to seek harmony and to associate with the lowly. We are to recognize the fact that every believer is significant. This means we are to avoid partiality and favoritism in the church. We should treat one another the same in Christ equally. Everybody is somebody in God's house. There are no big shots in God's house. There is no big “I’” or little “you”. The ground is level at the cross and we all were saved from sin. We should endeavor to have unity of mind rather than insisting on having our way. This refers primarily to our attitude and behavior toward others. The believer is to strive to understand them. We are to understand others to such a degree that we can completely identify and feel with that person. Just think of the enormous impact such love and empathy would have upon the world in bringing peace and unity and in meeting the desperate needs of so many. 2. The believer is to “mind not high things, but to condescend to men of low estate”. "High things" refers to seeking the things of preeminence, honor, prestige, and recognition. Haughty in mind literally means "minding high things." Christians are not to be snobbish, nor allow our minds to roam around in the high things of this world. We are to avoid haughtiness and associate with the humble. James is not telling us to ignore the rich, or people of stature, only that we should not favor them over others. Paul is calling for unity among believers. It carries the idea of associating with someone. We are to associate with one another regardless of background or social standing. As Christians, we should treat everyone, from the custodian to the CEO, with the same respect. We should never have favorites but treat everyone as equals because in God's sight we are. When we think we are better than others, we lose the ability and the assertiveness to minister to others. 3. The believer is to “Be not wise in your own conceits”. The phrase “be not wise in your own conceits” means not acting like know-it-alls or having inflated or overstated opinions of ourselves. The believer is not to be wise in their own eyes. We are not to have too high an opinion of ourselves as though we are above and better than others. Beware of overestimating yourself. Not only is it foolish, but it also borders arrogance and is pride. Scripture warns us that the pride of our hearts deceives us. Obadiah 1:3, “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee...” The believer is not to walk through life conceited, thinking himself above and better than other persons. We are to walk humbly, knowing that we are not better than anyone else. We are not to be proud, cocky, arrogant, and have a know-it-all attitude thinking we are in anyway superior to others. Proverbs 3:7, “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” This reminds us not to be haughty, imagining that we have all the wisdom and that others have none. A conceited, self-promoting Christian is a serious contradiction. Every believer should be humbly submissive to the will of God found in the Word of God. Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his autobiography that during his student days in America, he read the Gospels and seriously considered converting to Christianity. So one Sunday, he decided to attend a nearby church and talk to the minister. But when he arrived, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested he go worship with his own people. He said he left the church and decided, “If Christians have a caste system, I might as well remain a Hindu.” There are no castes of any sort in the body of Christ. That usher not only betrayed Jesus, he turned a person away from trust in Him. For reasons like this one, James, a brother of our Lord, was so emphatic in condemning prejudice. In James 2:1, we find that prejudice is inconsistent with Christ’s teachings; it comes from evil thoughts; it insults people made in God’s image; it is a product of selfish motives; it contradicts the biblical definition of love; it shows a lack of mercy toward the less fortunate; it is hypocritical; and it is sinful. Jesus spent time with the Pharisees, publicans, sinners, poor, rich, sick, and the disciples, because He cared for all and so should we. A church that is seeking to faithfully serve Christ will pursue and eagerly accept all believers into its fellowship. The only required common ground should be a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and unqualified submission to the Word of God. Points to Ponder: Those who are wise in their own eyes are rarely so in the eyes of other people. It is very easy and common to become cliquish while shunning others. A first class mistake is to treat anyone as a second class citizen. Questions to Consider: How can you demonstrate such love and understanding? Are you practicing humility through true Christian unity? Which of these three areas do you need to grow closer to the Lord? PRAYER: Lord, help me to always put others before myself and may I minister to them as I’m ministering to You. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Christians Greatest Need (Proverbs 8:11)
Proverbs 8:11, “For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” In May of 2012, a 32-carat Burmese ruby and diamond ring—that was part of the collection of Lily Safra, one of the richest women in the world—was sold at an auction. The pre-auction estimate for the sale was $3–5 million, but the final sale price ended up at $6.7 million. It is believed to be the most expensive ruby ever sold. As valuable as rubies are, the Bible tells us that wisdom is far better and more valuable. That which is most valuable with God is not recognized by men as a treasure. No earthly treasure can compare to wisdom because nothing else offers the same protection, benefits, and blessings that wisdom does. People often spare no expense to increase their wealth, but the same is not always true concerning wisdom. Wisdom’s instruction is far more precious than gold, silver, or rubies. All the other things that men desire is not worthy of being compared to wisdom and her teachings, yet a great majority of men place little or no value on wisdom’s teachings. Solomon used the image of searching for silver and hidden treasures to illustrate the effort required to gain wisdom (Proverbs 2:5-6). James and Solomon tell us that God gives us wisdom if we ask for it (James 1:5; Proverbs 2:6). 1. Wisdom’s Source. For wisdom is God alone. The throne of God in heaven is the place that we must go to get wisdom if we are to have it. Every river has a source and if the source dries up then the river would dry up. Lake Victoria is the source for the Nile River and God is the source for wisdom. This is a promise from God that we can have if we want it bad enough. These promises connect the wisdom of God from his throne to our life. As a river flows from it source so wisdom flows from the heart of God to those who are thirsty for it. 2. Wisdom’s Supply. God's wisdom is more abundant than the water that fills all our oceans in the world today. Every Christian in the world could ask God for wisdom and receive a generous supply and it would not put the heavenly reservoir in jeopardy. This source will never dry up because God's resources cannot be exhausted. This is a pure source that has no corruption from man. 3. Wisdom’s Satisfaction. We can have God’s wisdom and it will greatly enrich our life. The wisdom of God is perfect and it has no flaws in it. Nothing in this world can satisfy or substitute for the wisdom of God. Godly wisdom is superior to anything that is in this world, consider the following verses. Proverbs 8:11, “For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.” Ecclesiastes 9:16, “Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.” Ecclesiastes 9:18, “Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.” 4. Wisdom’s Significance. Silver, gold, and rubies, even in superabundance, are only "things." But things can dominate our lives. The poor man may spend his life worrying about the things he does not have. The rich man may spend his life worrying about the things he does have. Yet Jesus said, "A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15). The world of thought is far more important than the world of things. Things are deceptive. They hold our thoughts down so that we become occupied with the material, the physical, and the temporal. Continually, Solomon stresses the blessing of having wisdom. It should be the desire of every Christian to delight in having wisdom. It is more precious than rubies. It will preserve you against danger and destruction and promote you into leadership. It will cause your father to be pleased with you. Wisdom is the principal thing! When you give wisdom to others you will receive it, too. The consequence of our generosity is we will reap generosity in our own lives. Wisdom would have us look up. A desire for wealth will fasten our focus on this world. Wisdom would teach us to wait and work towards the life to come, to lay up treasure in Heaven, and to become "rich toward God" (Luke 12:21). Wisdom is better than wealth. Wealth can be lost but wisdom partakes of the infinite nature of God and endures forever. PRAYER, Father, Your Word says that You will give us wisdom if we will ask for it. Forgive me for all the times that failed to ask You for it. Your wisdom is available to me at all times. Thank You for those You have allowed to come into my life to help me become wiser. 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 2 Priorities for a Powerful Prayer Life (Matthew 14:22-23)
Matthew 14:22–23, “And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.” Jesus was very popular. The crowds sought Him out. Everyone wanted to be with Him! Masses of people followed after Him for various reasons (meals, miracles, monarchy). They either wanted to hear Him, or ask Him a question, or get Him to heal a loved one. From daylight to dusk Jesus was sought after. When the crowd knew He was in town, they found Him. Jesus never had a moment alone unless He made it happen. Several times in the Bible we see Jesus getting away from the multitudes and even sending them away (Matthew 14:22-23; 21:17; Mark 1:35; 3:7; 6:46-47; Luke 22:41). It is very important that we spend time alone with God. Perhaps every one of us struggle at times when it comes to making time for prayer. The subject of prayer has been has written about thousands of time to make one more confident and consistent in time spent with the Lord. 1. A Quiet Place. The first priority is establishing a quiet place that is free from distractions. Prayer is difficult when we are hurried or surrounded by distractions. Prayer is more difficult still when our hearts are withdrawn, when our hearts are distracted, when our hearts are uninterested in praying. When you want to pray, where do you go? Do you have a special place where you enjoy some quiet time? The Scottish pastor Thomas Brooks said, “The power of religion and godliness lives, thrives, or dies, as closet [private] prayer lives, thrives, or dies. Godliness never rises to a higher pitch than when men keep closest to their closets.” Your prayer closet is one of the most important places you’ll go to every day. Since, we all have busy lives we have to adjust to what works best. Personally, I feel the best time and place would be early in the mornings in a quiet secluded place at home. However, for some it may be at a restaurant, coffee shop, or office cube. 2. A Quiet Period. The second priority is having a specific time. Having found a quiet place, we also need a quiet, committed period of time. Despite our best plans, there are times when life gets chaotic. This may mean scheduling a specific time of day in which you talk with the Lord. Although we can take our cares and burdens to the Lord at any time, it will help if we are committed to a consistent prayer life and scheduled time. For some it will be harder than others to find a quiet hour. This means we may have to sacrifice things that maybe pleasant and profitable. The most important appointment you make every day is the one you make with God. The Bible is the most important book. When David Livingstone began his trek across Africa in 1852, he carried 73 books which together weighed 180 pounds. After he had gone 300 miles he had to throw away some of the books because it was not feasible to carry so much through the jungle. He continued throwing books away as he went further into the jungle. Eventually his library had shrunk to one book, the Bible, this he did not throw away. The Bible is truly the most important book in the world, yet many read it as if it were the least important. If Jesus himself needed this time, how much more must we show our dependence on God in this way. Time alone with God is essential to the spiritual well-being of every Christian. The lack of desire to pray is an unmistakable sign that one’s spiritual life is in a process of decline. If this is happening, we must take a hard look at our lives and remove anything that offends God or gets in the way of our relationship with Him. We must then come boldly, but humbly, to Him and renew our commitment to spending time with Him in prayer (Luke 18:1). Prayer is simply talking and interacting with God. It involves two-way communication in which we speak but also learn to listen for God’s responses and direction. Find a quiet place and a quiet time where you can spend time alone before God. These are priorities to a powerful prayer life along with an effective personal devotion. Jesus always found time to spend with the Father. Since prayer was such an important part in the life of Jesus how much more important is it to us who are broken and sinful. Time alone with the Lord will be the most comforting time in your day. Prayer, Lord, I humbly ask You to graciously grant me a heart that desires to pray. Forgive me, I’ve just been struggling with fear and doubt that has troubled the peace I have from You. I commit myself to prayer and I am casting these things Your way right now. I’m choosing not to worry about them anymore because You will deal with them under the authority of 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 Reward of the Diligent Worker (Proverbs 12:11)
Proverbs 12:11, "He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding." Jerome Smucker was born in 1858. By the late nineteenth century, he and his wife, Ella, had developed a good business, making apple cider in Orrville, Ohio. During the off-season, Smucker transformed his mill and made apple butter for the local farmers, who supplied their own apples. Jerome also made his own apple butter using a recipe developed by his family. Everyone in the family helped in the business. The apple butter was first sold door-to-door for twenty-five cents per half-gallon crock. By 1900, word of the apple butter had spread, and Smucker began selling the crocks to local grocery stores. The apple butter business became a major part of Smucker's production, and by 1920 the company had added a line of jams and jellies. Smucker's quality quickly became known, and soon the enterprise was the largest independent producer of preserves in the country. Jerome had four children, and one of them, Willard, took over the reins of the company when Jerome died in 1948. Willard's son, Paul, was named CEO in 1970. Under the family leadership, the company continued to prosper. It introduced new ways of shipping fruit in steel drums rather than the older wooden barrels. It also became the first preserves maker to use essence recovery, a technique whereby fruit essence is captured during cooking and then returned before bottling. Although the Smuckers still make apple butter, their most popular products today are strawberry preserves and grape jelly. Today, Smucker's is one of the most recognized names in the jelly industry. Our society does not value work as it once did. There are many government programs providing funding for those who are unwilling to labor. (This is different than providing help for those who cannot help themselves.) This produces a negative incentive. When there is no connection between work and reward, it is not hard to understand why people regard work as something to be avoided if at all possible. Yet those who refuse to do what they are able to do cheat themselves of the satisfaction and accomplishment that comes from diligent labor. Rather than drifting along with the culture, God’s people should be shining examples as workers. Whether the task is enjoyable or not, or whether it pays as much as we think it should or not, work is part of God’s plan for our lives, and it is ultimately not for our human boss that we work. Paul wrote, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ” (Colossians 3:23-24). Prayer: Lord, thank You for the work You’ve given me to do and for the opportunity to provide for my family. Help me to embrace the dignity of my work. I want to work hard on everything for Your 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 How to Run Like a Champion (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Hebrews 12:1-2, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Running long distances is a classic test of will and character. Dealing with the physical and mental stress of training and competing are some of the ways distance running builds individual fortitude. But there are lessons that lie beyond the traditional virtues of the sport. Second only to suffering, waiting may be the greatest teacher and trainer in godliness, maturity, and genuine spirituality most of us ever encounter. It is a quality that should be in the life of all Christians. When we have patience in our lives it will produce certain qualities that will glorify God in our life and help us to have a good testimony. 1. STAMINA (HEBREWS 12:1) The race we run for Christ is the most important race in the whole world, and we need to treat it that way. Our dedication to the task must never waver and we need to diligently train. Hebrews 12:1, “… and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” If we are going to effectively run the race that is before us for God, we must endure the afflictions along the way. We must not let sin side track us from the race. Also, there are some things which may not be wrong in themselves, but can be a weight and hinder us in running the race. Endurance has the never quit attitude even when things look hopeless to others. 2. SUPPORT (ROMANS 15:5-6) We need to have patience with other Christians as God does with us. Romans 15:5-6, “Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is a great challenge and opportunity to minister to other believers in the spirit of godly love. This principle in practice is a great encouragement to believers, and a powerful testimony to the lost in our community as they watch what we do. God will be praised and magnified as we put the Bible into practice in this area of our lives. 3. STEADFAST (I CORINTHIANS 15:58) I Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the LORD.” Being “steadfast” speaks of the challenge to dig in against the difficulties of life and be stable, solidly set, dependable, anchored by God, His truth, and His grace. Your service is not a waste of time. God will honor you and use it for His glory. Although you may not see it immediately, God will use your service to Him. Don't give up because you are discouraged. Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Don’t grow weary in the good you are doing. Remember, the seeds you sow are powerful. Your seeds will bear fruit in God’s timing. You will reap a harvest in God’s perfect timing, in his “due season.” 4. SEASONED (JAMES 1:19-20) When a believer is taught by the Holy Spirit concerning the Biblical truth of self-control, he will produce patience with others. When we are eager to hear the Bible and obey its teaching, then we will deepen our understanding and increase our fruitfulness. James 1:19-20, “Wherefore, my beloved brethen, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.” God isn't looking for quick tempered people, but those who are mature, patient, and have self-control. Without patience we will hurt and hinder God's work, but with it we can further it. If we fail to inspect (control) ourselves, we will fail to influence others. 5. STANDARD (HEBREWS 12:2) Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” We must concentrate and focus on Jesus Christ. The word looking means "to focus or to keep the eyes fixed on." It means to fix your gaze upon and to look exclusively without distraction. Jesus is our example. Whenever we face difficult circumstances, His Word is our guide. We will face trials, critics, temptations, and other hurdles in our Christian race, but Jesus has shown us that through His help, we can overcome these situations. Think about your Christian race. The idea is to give complete attention to that which is before you. Like a runner in a race concentrates and focuses on the finish line, we are to have our eye fixed on Christ. If we are going to do well in this race we must keep our eyes on our Lord. Despite life's doubts and difficulties, regardless of the failures and falls, in spite of the hindrances, we can have confidence that our salvation is certain. When our race is finished we will be glorified. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
Prayer: LORD, You have chosen the course for my life. It’s been both exciting and exhausting. However, I have a fruitful life and a finish line I have to cross. I want to thank You for the patience and joy You have given me on my course. As I run this race it’s my desire to praise You and to please You. 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 The Lord is with Us Always (Matthew 28:20)
Matthew 28:20, “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.” God works providentially in our lives, even through adversity, for His glory and our good. Because God is faithful and sovereign, we should live with full trust in Him, knowing that even when obstacles appear to prevent His mission, He may use those very obstacles as part of His plan to bring glory to His Son. In Genesis, we see that Joseph suffered unjustly in Potiphar’s house and in prison, but he was later promoted to a place of prominence. Jesus suffered unjustly in His arrest and crucifixion, but He was later raised from the dead and returned to His exalted place of glory with the Father. At the age of seventeen, Joseph’s life had taken a tragic turn when his brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. In Egypt, Joseph’s tragic story would continue, but God was using Joseph’s adversity, the impact of which we continue to feel today as well. Joseph’s situation was difficult. He was betrayed by his brothers, torn from his family, and taken to a foreign land as a slave. And to make matters worse, his brothers lied to their father, making it look as if Joseph were dead. He was alone, and no one was going to look for him. But he was never really alone: “The Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2). The Lord was with Joseph and brought him success in Potiphar’s house, which did not go unnoticed by his Egyptian master (Genesis 39:2-3). Potiphar recognized that God was blessing his young servant and that all he did prospered. Potiphar placed Joseph, his Israelite slave, in charge of his household and all he owned. Joseph was away from his people, but he was not away from the God of his people, and God remained faithful to His covenant promises: Joseph was a blessing to the nations. The Lord was with Joseph, and soon Potiphar noticed Joseph’s gifted and honest service (Genesis 39:2-3). It is interesting to note that this heathen man realized that Joseph’s God was blessing all his work as this suggests that Joseph witnessed to those around him that it was the Lord who was helping him. Joseph fulfilled the divine promise that God’s people will be the means of blessing to others. Potiphar was blessed because of the presence of Joseph (Genesis 39:5). Also, when Joseph, upon identifying himself to his brothers, mentions that God sent him to Egypt to save many, both Hebrews and Egyptians (Genesis 45:5). God’s omnipresence means that He is always with us regardless of the place or the circumstance. God’s omnipresence is a deterrent for sin and a source of great comfort and hope for believers. He is present with us wherever we are, and sees all that occurs; nothing escapes His attention (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 23:4; 33:14; 139:7-10; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 18:20; 28:20; Hebrews 13:5). Because God exists apart from and outside of time and space, He is not limited by obstacles and nothing is too hard for Him (Genesis 18:14). You are not alone. You can wait on God and trust Him. The seasons of hardship and even the deepest valleys will come to a conclusion, for God’s glory and by His grace. Point to Ponder:
Question to Consider:
Prayer, Lord, I admit it’s easier for me to focus on my troubles than to remember the importance that You are always with me. And I realize it’s easier to feel stuck where I am today rather than remembering that You always see it through. Thank You for showing me that the circumstances aren’t nearly as important as Your constant and faithful presence in my life—no matter what, no matter when, and no matter how long! 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 |
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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