Uplifting a Friend Who is Lonely or Hurting (Proverbs 18:24)
Proverbs 18:24, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Loneliness is a big obstacle to perseverance. Sometimes you can even feel isolated in a crowd. Whatever is going on in your heart and life today, understand everybody goes through loneliness at some point in life—even the apostle Paul. Paul was experiencing loneliness. “Who really understands me? How many people do I know that have really walked the road that I'm walking?” In II Timothy 4, Paul is nearing the end of his life. Paul is wrapping up his second letter to Timothy, he writes in II Timothy 4:9, “Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me.” Now that is a pretty vulnerable request. In a manner of words Paul said, “Son, I don’t mind telling you that I need you ASAP!” (I Timothy 1:2; II Timothy 1:2). Sufferers often struggle with feeling isolated and alone. One of their biggest needs is to have people reach out and pursue a relationship with them. If you are a Christian who has faced suffering in your life then you have probably encountered a fellow Christian who wanted to provide comfort and help to you. Communicating with people going through a difficult time can mean a lot. It really makes difference to a hurting friend, or fellow Christian, knowing that we are thinking of and praying for them. Even if it’s just a few brief words of encouragement expressing your love and prayer support. And, of course, you could stop by their home, or hospital room, to visit and pray with them. Human friendships are part of God’s gift to us. As we live in the reality of these truths, and thus, grow in faith and trust each day that we suffer we begin to recognize some of the ways God shows His compassion for us. We begin to appreciate His compassion in giving us family and friends as well as the beauty and comfort of His nature; the blessings we so often take for granted. We begin to notice and recognize His compassions: unexpected help from a stranger, an encouraging note, a faithful pet curled up at our feet or in our lap, or a biography of a Christian who has gone through suffering. We begin to thank our Heavenly Father for an amplified awareness and a greater appreciation of His loving kindness. We begin to realize that "all things" really does mean all things. And even when we feel that our various needs for comfort and encouragement are not being met as we would like, in any and all disappointing and hurting situations we can take hope in the midst of our hurts because we know that God is faithful in His commitment to our welfare--today and forever. Finally, we have all the Biblical promises of an eternal future with our Lord in Heaven. This life is only a brief moment compared to eternity. The hurts of today will soon be gone forever. For the Christian, there is surely hope in the midst of hurt! Prayer: Father, we thank You that You came to us in the person of your Son, Jesus Christ. You did not forget us and You did not leave us alone. We bless You for remembering us in our misery and coming to save us through Christ the Lord. You clothed Your Son with human flesh so that He might be our Saviour. 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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Honesty and Humility (Proverbs 12:19; 29:23)
1. Honesty Proverbs 12:19, “The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” Honesty and truthfulness will produce a long-lasting reputation. However, a lying tongue brings only short-lived benefit. Words of truth, like the Word of God are established forever (Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 40:8). And the lips that speak truth will endure and be blessed forever. However, people with lying tongues will not endure but last only for a moment. Whatever advantage which might accrue from lying quickly evaporates as the truth is eventually made known. In contrast, truthfulness and honesty have long-term benefits. Being truthful and honest with others is important in achieving your goals. You may deceive people to get what you want, but you won't keep what you got. Once the word gets out that you are a liar and cheat, you won't get it again. You won't achieve anything except failure. Too often people have burned bridges, ruined their reputation leaving them to change jobs, careers, and locations. Coming home from work, a woman stopped at the corner deli to buy a chicken for supper. The butcher reached into a barrel, grabbed the last chicken he had, flung it on the scales behind the counter, and told the woman its weight. She thought for a moment. "I really need a bit more chicken than that," she said. "Do you have any larger ones?" Without a word, the butcher put the chicken back into the barrel, groped around as though finding another, pulled the same chicken out, and placed it on the scales. "This chicken weighs one pound more," he announced. The woman pondered her options and then said, "Okay. I'll take them both." He was caught! Honesty and truth show a person with integrity. People with integrity beckon the trust and admiration of people. God demands that we be honest in all of our dealings. With His blessing and favor, what we are able to acquire through honest effort will be enough. Even if you are convinced that no one will ever discover your scheme, God will know. It is far better to live with transparency and honesty. That is how you build a business and good relationships with others. 2. Humility Proverbs 29:23, “A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” Human reasoning teaches that the way to success is through self-elevation, but this is a false assumption. Scripture clearly teaches that pride and self-promotion do not exalt people, rather results in dishonor and humiliation. God’s Word declares that the arrogant will be humbled through a painful, disgraceful fall. Those who maintain a humble spirit will be held in high esteem—if not in this life, then in the next (Proverbs 16:18-19). Other than love, humility is the most taught character trait in the New Testament. What does it mean to have a humble attitude? Humility causes you to see yourself from God's viewpoint and acknowledges God's grace and work in your life. Humility gives you an accurate view of yourself. The smaller you become, the more room God has to work in your life. D.L. Moody said, "God will send no one away empty except those who are full of themselves." When we are full of ourselves, we are giving God no room to work within us. Pride prevents you from progress. Humility prepares us to fulfill our purpose. Have you ever chosen to not ask for help just to save face? Pride can prevent us from asking for help and making progress by telling us we are fine to stay in the same place. Do you have humility? D.L. Moody said, "A man can counterfeit many graces and character traits, but it is difficult to counterfeit humility." One man tried to counterfeit his humility when he said, "Only my great humility keeps me from telling you how truly wonderful I am." Pride always backfires. It deceives one into thinking he is better than he is. It exalts oneself and eventually brings them down. He that exalts himself shall be abased. It is inevitable. In contrast, true humbleness of spirit brings promotion. This leads to success and achieving your goals. The world’s way is to exalt oneself. God’s way is to be humble. It eventually brings promotion. God will test your humility and whether you have a servant's heart. Luke 14:11, “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." A true test of servanthood is if I act like one when I am treated like one. A humble person remains the same person in all circumstances: whether you’re put down, exalted, humiliated, or honored. If a person has a humble servant's heart, there will be no limit to what they can accomplish if they are unconcerned with who gets the credit. If you have a humble spirit, it will help you to be teachable, reachable, reasonable, and sensible. Humility leads to honor. God Himself will exalt us throughout eternity if we humbly bow before Him and submit to Him. James taught this same truth. James 4:10, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” The great example of this is the Lord Jesus Christ, who was meek and lowly in heart; yet He is acknowledged by most people to be the greatest man of human history (Matthew 11:29). As believers, we are to walk humbly on this earth. Do you want to be honored? If so, then you need to have humility. Points to Ponder:
Questions to Consider:
PRAYER: Father in Heaven, renew my mind. Give me a clear understanding of humility, as modeled by Jesus Christ. Jesus restrained His power, and as an ultimate act of strength, He humbled Himself and served. Lord, I admit it, that is hard for me. Help me to understand and help me to do it. If Jesus could get low and serve, so should I. I humble myself before You in Jesus name I pray, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Charge it to My Account (II Corinthians 5:21)
II Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” The stealing had to stop. Deep in the heart of Russia, local police were on the lookout for a thief who got away with hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise. Neither the local businesses nor the residents could afford the losses or the increased prices any longer. The stealing became a federal crime. The Russian czar made the offense punishable by 40 lashes. Police finally caught up with the crook and brought her to the Town Square, where she would be tied to a post to get 40 lashes. The czar came, along with hundreds of villagers from the city. But the czar recognized the woman’s face as that of his mother. Everyone looked at him to see what he would do. Would he pardon her, or would he make her pay the price for her crime? The czar knew the crime had to be punished, but he also knew his mother could not survive 40 lashes. So he walked over to the post where his mother was tied and took off his shirt. He chose to take the lashes in her place and the people were touched. Over 2,000 years ago, the world was guilty and condemned before God because of sin. We deserved to spend eternity in Hell, but God took our place through His Son on the cross. He didn’t just sweep our sins under a rug and pretend nothing ever happened. He didn’t say, “I’ll let it go this time—just don’t do it again.” Blood had to be shed. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He paid the purchased price for our redemption. Three days later, He arose from the dead as proof that His payment had been accepted by the Father. You and I can be completely forgiven for every sin we’ve ever committed or will commit if we just accept Christ’s free gift. Ambassadors were generally mature man. Ordinarily we do not send young men to foreign lands as ambassadors, but older men, men who are seasoned and experienced. An ambassador is one who represents his country in another country. Everyone can be a witness for Christ. Paul regarded himself as an ambassador (Ephesians 6:20). He stood before the human court to deliver the message with which he was entrusted from the court of heaven. His critics at Corinth might indeed be saying slighting and slanderous things about him. They were criticizing God's own ambassador. An ambassador represents another and speaks the words of another. To reject Him is to reject the one who sent Him and to receive Him is to receive the one who sent Him (John 13:20). God still has His ambassadors. In each generation, He raises up special men to carry His name "before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel" (Acts 9:15). The very core of the principle of justification is here presented. The great substitutionary work of Christ is in view. God made Jesus to be sin for us. He, the sinless One, who never knew sin and never will, had the iniquity of us all laid on Him. Nevertheless, God imputed to Him our sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. It is the very heart of the great doctrine of justification. Jesus placed your sins on His account. If you go to the LORD, He will take Christ’s righteousness, which is perfect, and He will accredit it to your account. That when you will stand before you will stand before God as though you have never sinned. Not because your sinless, but because of your account. If you will receive Jesus Christ (Gospel) He will credit your account with perfection because He has already accredited your sin onto Jesus Christ. Jesus earnestly wants to impute your sin to His record and impute His righteousness to your record. Friend, the price has already been paid for your sins. Accept Christ’s free gift today, and you will find complete forgiveness. 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). Prayer: Father in Heaven, thank You for sending Jesus to pay for our sins that we would be made righteous in Your sight. Every day I want to live to bring honor and glory to You and to share my testimony and the Gospel with others. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Merciful God (Matthew 5:7) – PART 2
Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” 1.God’s mercy should compel believers to practice mercy. The Beatitudes give mercy as a continuing attitude and action of the redeemed. Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” In the Beatitudes, Christ is teaching the attitudes that are within those who are truly part of the kingdom of God. With this specific attitude of mercy, Jesus gives a mutual promise. He says mercy will be given to those who have shown mercy. Those who practice mercy in their daily lives: forgiving others, giving to the poor, etc., will always receive mercy from God. But those who do not show mercy, God will show His justice. Matthew 6:15, “But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Certainly, this should be a warning to us. If we withhold mercy, God will withhold mercy from us—He will not forgive us. But even worse than withholding mercy, He will judge us for not being merciful as He is. Matthew 18:33-35, “Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.” Understanding that this is a characteristic of God should cause us to practice the discipline of being merciful. By practicing mercy, we will look more like our Father who is great in mercy, and it also is the doorway to receiving tremendous blessings in our lives. 2.God’s mercy should compel believers to love mercy. Micah 6:8, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah says we must not only show mercy but love it. It is very possible for our acts of kindness and forgiveness toward others to have the wrong motive or simply to be done out of obligation. I Peter 4:9, “Use hospitality one to another without grudging.” God not only commands our actions but he commands our hearts. He commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to love him with all our heart, mind, and soul. God has called for us to love showing mercy because he loves showing mercy. This is a wonderful characteristic of God that we must strive to show every day to those God has placed around us. God’s mercy must also continually drive us to the feet of God in prayer to ask for mercy on us, our communities, our nations, and all those around us. Thank you, Lord, that you are God of mercy. Thank you, Lord, that you don’t keep a record of sins, for who could stand your wrath? Psalm 130:3, “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” Questions to Consider: In what ways do we see God’s mercy reflected throughout the Scripture? In what ways is God calling us to demonstrate His mercy to the church and those around us? Points to Ponder: Pray that God would be great in mercy to your nation for its sins (Psalm 51:1). Pray a prayer of confession for specific sins and ask for God to bring revival. PRAYER: Lord, thank You for having mercy toward me. By all rights, I should be eternally separated from Your holiness and kindness. Cultivate within me a heart that displays mercy and forgiveness. 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 Merciful God (Proverbs 28:13) – PART 1
Proverbs 28:13, "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." The Bible teaches us that God is a God of mercy. Mercy, by definition, means “compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power.” This has the idea of God’s goodness toward those in misery and distress. Throughout the Bible, we see that the character of God is merciful. He delights in forgiving people and being merciful to those who don’t deserve it. How should God being merciful affect us? 1. God’s mercy should compel believers to seek God’s forgiveness for their sins. I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This verse is abounding with mercy. Confession of sins implies acknowledgment and repentance. As we therefore come to God and acknowledge our sin with a repentant spirit, He is faithful and just (righteous) to forgive our sins. John is touching upon day-to-day forgiveness which interrupts our fellowship with God. It is seeking to restore strained fellowship. Furthermore, this confession grants cleansing from all unrighteousness. There is no sin too great that God will not forgive. He desires to give mercy to sinners. Many saints walk around with condemnation about something they did or did not do in the past. This is because they don’t truly have an understanding of God’s great mercy. For that reason, they instead listen to and accept the condemnation of their flesh and the devil. Some have stopped going to church, some have stopped praying and reading their Bibles. They feel too guilty. Jesus took the penalty for our failures and our sins so that we could receive mercy. If we truly have a revelation of what Christ has done for us, we will run to the throne room of God constantly to receive grace and mercy in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). 2. God’s mercy should compel believers to pray for mercy over others. If we understand God’s mercy, it should cause us to seek and plead with Him for mercy over others. At the cross, Jesus prayed, “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do...” (Luke 23:34). He asked for mercy towards His persecutors. The Lord’s Prayer says, “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” as it ushers us to seek forgiveness for, not only our sins, but others sins as well (Matthew 6:12). Do you ever ask for mercy over the sins of others? This is the same thing we saw the prophet Amos do for the nation of Israel (Amos 7:1-6). It is the same thing Moses did as he constantly asked God to forgive the nation of Israel for their sins (Exodus 32:9-14). It is the same thing Stephen did as he asked for forgiveness over those stoning him (Acts 7:60). It is the same thing that Christ prayed for on the cross. “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). It is the same thing we must constantly do for those around us. God has called us to make intercession for people who are far away from God (I Peter 2:9; I Timothy 2:1-4). Prayer: Lord, in spite of the fact that I don’t deserve Your lovingkindness or tender mercy, thank You for forgiving me of my sins and saving my soul. Help me to utilize these truths for the purpose of ministering to others. Please show me how I can actively and passionately engage in the ministry opportunities You have sovereignly placed around me. Give me eyes to recognize these opportunities, a heart dependent on You, and a desire to come alongside people in my life to help them to grow into a deeper relationship with 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 Faithful Friends (Luke 5:17-26)
A young boy, came into a Christian bookshop. His head barely reached just above the counter. He asked the clerk, “Sir, How much are your Bibles?” The man pulled his cheapest Bible off the shelf, one with children’s pictures, and said $1.00. But the boy didn’t have enough money. The boy said. “Hang on, I’ve got more money in my sock,” He sat down on the floor, pulled off a shoe and a long sock. The clerk asked, “You don’t have a Bible Son?” The boy responded, “The Bible’s not for me; it’s for my friend. I want him to know Jesus like I do.” The clerk said “You can have the Bible.” As the boy walked out the door with the Bible, he stopped, turned and said with a big smile, “It’s a good book, ain’t it mister?” By seeking to bring his friend to Jesus, that boy was being the best kind of friend in this world. Their names are not given, their occupation is not mentioned, nor are their ages listed. The Scriptures only records one thing that they did. But the one thing which these men did is the most important work ever performed by men: these men brought a helpless man to the Lord. “It takes a true believer to be compassionate. No greater burden can be borne by an individual than to know no one cares or understands” - Arthur H. Stainback. The outward success of Jesus’ great Galilean ministry aroused the jealousy of these religious leaders and they, from this time forth, came from far and near to spy on Him, accuse Him, and turn the multitudes from Him. Those onlookers had seen deity manifested to them in such a convincing way. These four friends knew the Lord. They had true faith in Christ. They believed Him to be the Messiah. They recognized His power and authority as the sovereign Lord, the Son of God. They knew that He had power both to heal disease and to forgive sin. These men had a friend who desperately needed Christ. Their friend was a hopelessly, helplessly paralyzed man. They could not heal their friend or forgive his sin. Knowing Christ’s power and grace and knowing their friend’s desperate need, these men determined to bring their friend to Christ. It was not an easy thing to do. The room was packed with people, standing room only. In fact, there was no room through the front door. No one offered to assist them nor even to make room for them, but they were not deterred. They never gave up on their friend. They found a way to bring him in and to lay him before Jesus. At last they got their friend before the Lord. They said nothing; they simply laid the helpless man before Christ. And as a direct result of their labors and faith toward Christ, two marvelous things happened: a sinner was freely forgiven of all his sins and the Lord God was glorified. These men had been voluntary instruments in the hands of the Lord, and God used them to accomplish his eternal purpose! Early Christians "turned the world upside down" as they shared Jesus Christ with others. They were interested in the souls of men that needed to be saved. I want to be like these men, diligently laboring to bring sinners to Christ, faithfully giving myself to the great commission, allowing nothing to stand in my way. We cannot save men, but we can do our part and get others under the sound of the Gospel. It's far more important that I care about people than plans. The cause of Christ ought to be at the top of our priority lists. We should always be mindful of how we can be used to lead others to Christ. You may be in a hurry as you're reading this today; but in your haste, don't neglect opportunities to let your light shine for Christ. Be available to lend an ear or a hand and you'll be amazed at how God will use you. What happens concerning conviction and repentance is between the sinner and the Saviour. Our responsibility as ambassadors for Christ is to get them to the Saviour. The only way to heaven is by Christ. The Gospel comes from God. It brings us to God. We find four men, co-laborers, working together as a team effort to get this one man to Jesus. I Corinthians 3:6, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.” It’s great when several people work together in bringing someone to the Lord. That is often the case. It almost always takes more than one. We are not to get jealous over who gets the credit. The main thing is getting the person to Jesus. What a person chooses to do with their decision with Christ is their choice. The friends of the paralyzed man had strong faith that Jesus could heal him, as seen by their determination to bring him to Jesus. We, too, must show the confidence that Christ can meet the needs of those we know by using every opportunity to introduce them to Jesus. If we truly desire to bring others to Christ, God’s Spirit will provide many opportunities to do so. A Suggested Outline: (Luke 5:17-26)
Points to Ponder: Palsy paralyzes the body, sin paralyzes the soul. These men were willing to make sacrifices to help the paralyzed man. They were willing to get involved in his life to help him. Our responsibility as ambassadors for Christ is to get them to the Saviour. Questions to Consider: Are we as determined to bring our spiritually-paralyzed friends before Jesus? Is there an expectation in your life you want to see fulfilled? What are the obstacles we face today that hinder us from getting close to the Lord? What keeps us from seeing our expectations fulfilled? PRAYER: Lord, thank You for saving my soul and for Your gift of eternal life. You used a friend and a co-worker who lead me to You. Help kindle a fire within me and inspire me to zealously give myself to the business of bringing sinners to Christ. Help me to have that same passion for others 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 All Lives Matter to Him (Ephesians 1:6)
Ephesians 1:6, “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Notice: He has made us accepted. We are acceptable to God. Accepted means to be approved and adorned in the same sense that God has accepted, or is pleased with, Jesus (John 17:23). Here is a question. When did God start loving us? Was it when we desired to live for Him and to do His will? Was it when we were saved? Was it when we were born? Was it when we were in our mother’s womb? Was it when He created the world? No, He loved us long before that. His love is an everlasting love, a love without a beginning, as eternal as He Himself is (Jeremiah 31:3). What is God's acceptance of us based upon? How can a sinner be saved and accepted? Our acceptance and salvation is based upon Christ shed blood for us. When God sees us He sees no sin. This is our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:17). In His grace, we are accepted in our fellowship with Jesus. Redemption means to go to the market to purchase; to buy and ransom for rescue; to loosen with ransom. We have the forgiveness of sins and redemption through His blood (Ephesians 1:7). Can we depend upon God's acceptance? We are accepted by a God who does not change. Hebrews 6:17-18, “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” God's two "unchangeable things" are His nature and His promise. God personifies all truth and He cannot lie. Because God is truth, you can be secure in His promises. You don't need to wonder if He will change His plans. To the true seeker who comes to God in belief God gives an unconditional promise of acceptance. When you ask God with openness, honesty and sincerity to save you from your sins, He will do it. This assurance should give you courage and hope. Since Christ received us, we ought to receive one another. How important is it to accept other people? Romans 15:7, “Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.” Accepting others grows out of obedience to Christ. To accept Jesus' Lordship in all areas of life means to share His values and His view. Just as we accept Jesus' views on the authority of Scripture, the nature of Heaven and the Resurrection, so we are to have his attitude of love toward other Christians. As we grow in faith and come to know Jesus better, we become more capable of maintaining this attitude. 1. Acceptance toward the Undesirable. Leprosy has always been a fearful and frightening disease. In Jesus times, when Christ ministered on earth, lepers were considered outcasts from society. According to the Jewish law they were unclean. When a leper was approached by someone, the leper would have to yell “Unclean, unclean”. Jesus’ response to a leper was an acceptable approach where he received the leper as He stretched out his hand and touched him in Mark 1:41. In Mark 5, it was a former demon possessed man who was now a new man in Christ Jesus, who Jesus Himself, commissioned to go to Decapolis to share his testimony of Christ’s love. Jesus did not allow the society around Him to dictate who, or how, He was going to accept and treat others. Too often, we allow the crowds, cliques, and inner circles determine who and how we accept. 2. Acceptance toward the Unimportant. In today’s society, mankind is categorized in ranks etc. However, in Jesus’ kingdom, there are no big I’s and little you’s. Often we are quick to accept people of prominence if we feel we will reap a benefit from the relationship. In Matthew 19, parents wanted Jesus to touch their children, to bless their children and to pray for their children. However, the disciples believed Christ was too busy to be bothered by little children and sought to send away the parents and their children. Like those little children, all people are important to God. Jesus’ response is seen in Matthew 19:13-15. All lives matter to the Lord, regardless of the age, race, socio status, or background. Everyone is important to the Lord and He has a work for everyone to do. It is His will that not any perish but that all come unto Him for repentance in II Peter 3:9. He invites all to come to Him in Matthew 11:30. Any and all who come to Him He will not reject (John 6:37). 3. Acceptance toward the Underestimated. John 6, it was Jesus who accepted this little boys sack lunch to be part of such a miracle. It’s amazing that a small child with just five loaves and two fish was used by God to feed five thousand men. This miracle was recorded in all four Gospel accounts. His blessing to those around him is a lesson for us today. You may feel small and insignificant. You may feel like these disciples felt; helpless and hopeless to minister to anyone. You may be the only one like this little boy and wonder how Jesus could ever use you, but just put yourself in the hands of the master. Give him all you have. Use the talents God has given you through the Holy Spirit to serve Him and encourage others. He will use it all, multiply it all, and will waste none. You can serve him and others for God’s glory. Who has God placed in your life that you can minister to? Prayer, Father, thank You for always seeing in me what others may never see and for giving me the strength and desire to serve You. Help me to utilize these truths for the purpose of ministering to others. Please show me how I can actively and passionately engage in the ministry opportunities You have sovereignly placed around me. Give me eyes to recognize these opportunities, a heart dependent on You, and a desire to come alongside people in my life to help them to grow into a deeper relationship with You. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Wisdom in the Workplace (Proverbs 2:1-15)
At the beginning of his reign, King Solomon prayed for one superior gift from God. Not wealth, not long life, but something far more valuable. He asked for "an understanding heart". He asked for wisdom - a heart that would listen and be teachable. In Proverbs 2:1-5, we see the cost of wisdom. Wisdom may be had by anyone who will pay the cost of attaining wisdom. The cost is doing the following things: · We must receive and hide (store up) words of wisdom (Proverbs 2:1). · We must incline and apply our hearts unto wisdom and to understanding (Proverbs 2:2). · We must cry out for wisdom (Proverbs 2:3). · We must diligently seek wisdom as men seek for treasures (Proverbs 2:4). Wisdom is fearing God and having a knowledge of Him (Proverbs 2:5). The source of true wisdom, knowledge, and understanding comes from God as a gift (Proverbs 2:6). God possesses wisdom, He demands wisdom, and He furnishes (gives), wisdom (to those who meet the conditions). The rewards given to those who seek and find wisdom (Proverbs 2:7-8). · They are given sound wisdom (Proverbs 2:7). Sound wisdom is divine wisdom, not human wisdom. · They are given protection (Proverbs 2:7). The Lord becomes their “buckler,” their shield of protection. · They are given guidance (Proverbs 2:8). The Lord guides the just in choosing the right path among the many paths before them. · They are given preservation (Proverbs 2:8). The Lord keeps them walking in the right way. · They are given understanding of what is right, just, equitable, and good (Proverbs 2:9). The value of wisdom (Proverbs 2:10-19). It delivers its possessors from the temptations of evil men (Proverbs 2:10-15). Evil men think wrong, talk wrong, and walk wrong. Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding keep us from following the way of evil men. Repeatedly, I have seen the constructive outcomes of those who have pursued wisdom. This has come to those who do not have charismatic personalities, high qualifications, or are exceptionally talented. These wise people have achieved responsibility and respect for one reason; they have handled themselves wisely in their accomplishments over a long time. In their work and in their relationships, they have applied wisdom and still are receiving honor and reward. On the other hand, those who have foolishly neglected these principles eventually fell by the wayside. Wisdom works from the inside out. It must be in our heart before it can be in our actions. Doing right on the outside is important, but if things are not right on the inside, it will be revealed in time. We do not receive a lifetime supply of wisdom all at once. We must continually seek it through the pages of God’s Word and from godly counselors. The direction of our lives will be shaped by our heart attitude toward wisdom. Their Wisdom (Proverbs 2:10). It is one thing to have wisdom, it is another to delight in it. One must have wisdom to have safety, but one must also delight in wisdom to have safety. Their Warning (Proverbs 2:11). Discretion is having the right discernment which leads to right decisions. Discretion, which originates from godly wisdom, will guard and protect us from the pitfalls of life. Keep God’s principles in your heart and mind and they will guard and keep you from danger. Their Words (Proverbs 2:12). The words “froward” or “perverse” refer to anything that turns against God’s righteousness and His commands. Words are very powerful (James 3:3-5). The wicked seek to draw others onto their path by their seductive speech. If we are not on guard, the Devil will use his deceitful words to lure us away from God and His commands. Their Walk (Proverbs 2:13). The wicked deliberately turn away from the straight path that God longs for them to follow. The way of the wicked is crooked, confusing, and chaotic. This is the very opposite of the straight path of uprightness; the road God has designed for people to travel. Their Will (Proverbs 2:14). The wicked love the way they are and the way they live. They enjoy the wrong they do and take pleasure in their perversity. Their seared consciences have been numbed to the point that God’s commandments matter little to them, so they no longer feel any guilt or shame over their actions (I Timothy 4:2). Their Ways (Proverbs 2:15). The father emphasized the importance of choosing the right way or path. Godly wisdom will protect a wise person from the pitfalls of corrupt people. We need wisdom, and in His Word God revealed clearly how we can obtain it. Wisdom is not produced by our ingenuity or learning; it is given by the grace of God. Wisdom comes from God, and He gives it generously to all who seek and ask. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Wisdom is not reserved for a special class of believers. The promise of wisdom is available to anyone who is willing to ask for it. And God gives it freely without restraint or condemnation because of His nature. Questions to Consider: · What are some decisions you have made which you believe were wise? · What are some ways that you have sought God’s wisdom? · What moved you to act with wisdom in those situations? · What are some ways in which practicing wisdom has delivered you from danger? Points to Ponder:
Prayer, Lord, thank You for growing me in wisdom and that You offer me more and more as I immerse my mind in Your Word. Forgive me for placing pride in my own insights. Thank You that Your wisdom is an inexhaustible supply. I can never reach the end of knowing You and learning from You. Thank You for wisdom personified in Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The World's Safest Place to Be (Psalm 91:4)
Psalm 91:4, “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” During a blizzard in South Wales, England, a young mother and her baby were making their way across the foothills when she was overtaken by the frigid storm. Failing to reach her destination, a group of searchers found her frozen body with her baby tightly wrapped underneath her; the child was warm and still alive. The mother had taken off her outer garments and covered her child from the cold. The child grew up to be David Lloyd George, Britain's Prime Minister and one of the greatest statesmen in England. His political and social greatness was made possible because his mother covered him in love. Much like David Lloyd George, our achievements in life can only be attributed to the covering of God's love. God is omnipotent, all-powerful. He will cover and protect us under His wings of care when we stay close to Him. The psalmist compared God’s care for His people to a bird gathering her young under her wings in order to protect them. The Lord will be our refuge, covering and protecting us in the dangers of life. Regardless of the threats and fears we may face; we can be confident in the protection of our loving Saviour. The truth or faithfulness of God will be our shield and buckler. God has given us His faithful promises to use as our armor for life’s battles (Ephesians 6:10-20). We are protected by His faithfulness to His Word. Knowing that, we can have complete confidence that He will fulfill His promises to us. In perilous times, we need to trust God to help us. When we abide in Him and live in the fullness of His Spirit, we can face every situation of life without fear. Whatever difficulties or dangers we may face, our Lord will be with us. The shadow of the Almighty will cover us through them all. We are covered by the feathers and sheltering wings of the Lord. His truth is our defense. It is our shield and buckler. The message is God's truth protects and surrounds us. It protects us from lies and deception and from making foolish decisions that scar our lives. Genuine security brings peace in times of darkness, danger, destruction, disease, and death. Night is a time of terrors, robbery, and murder. The godly man lies down in peace, and sleeps quietly, for he trusts his life in the hand of God, and he knows that He neither snoozes nor sleeps. Security and peace are a by-product of entrusting your life to God's care. When we are "in Him," we are over-shadowed by His power. His presence makes every provision for our protection and blessing. God will protect us and deliver us, but it may not mean the absence of pain and affliction in this life. He is not only our shield but a bulwark that fortifies our security. He will deliver us because we love Him. He sets us securely on high because we know His name. He answers us because we call on Him. He is with us in trouble, will rescue us, honor us, satisfy us with a long life, and allow us to know and experience His salvation because of an abiding, intimate relationship with Him. The fear of the unknown, the fear of loneliness, the fear of darkness, the fear of the future, or the fear of battle can be removed when your life is totally yielded to the Lord and you are obeying and doing what He instructs you to do in His Word. Peace comes from trusting in Him. In perilous times, we need to trust God to help us. When we abide in Him and live in the fullness of His Spirit, we can face every situation of life without fear. Satan’s fury against God, His Word, and His people is becoming more savage every day. More and more believers are paying a price for their faith in Jesus Christ. Through it all, however, God is our helper, and He is always with us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Our Saviour has promised to be with us to the end (Matthew 28:20). Whatever difficulties or dangers we may face, our Lord will be with us, we will not walk alone. We will walk under the comforting shelter of God’s shadow. If you've never been saved, there is a place beside the Lord for you if you will only claim it. If you are a Christian who has wandered from fellowship with the Lord, you need to come and find your place once again. I'm sure that you will find it just as you remembered. The Lord is waiting for you to come! Points to Ponder:
Questions to Consider:
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your presence with me and that my future is secure in the place You're preparing for me. Your words bring me hope and comfort. Daily I catch glimpses of Your glory and blessing along the way as I walk with 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 Jesus is the Messiah (John 1:41)
John 1:41, “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” “Charles Jennens was a very well known figure in his society. He was quite a site as he road into town on his magnificent coach drawn by four plumed horses. On Saturday, August 22, 1741, he brought a scrapbook with him to Handel's small study. He told Handel, ‘Here is a collection called The Messiah. Can you make an entertainment out of it’ When Jennens left, Handel started studying the text he received. He noticed that the words had been taken from Scripture. Handel felt that Jennens had really outdone himself this time, for the words sang like cardinals on a beautiful spring day. Handel started writing at once. He wrote so fast that the ink had scarcely dried on one page before he started another. The musical score was covered with splotches, but the Master did not notice them. He was oblivious to the whole world around him. Handel admitted later, ‘Whether I was in my body or out of body as I wrote The Messiah, I know not.’ He remained in the little front room on the first floor of his house, not for twenty-four hours, but for twenty-four days, setting down thousands of musical notes to Jennen's excerpts from the Bible. Handel was so consumed in what he was doing that he failed to touch his food that was brought regularly to him by his servant. Sometimes the servant stood in silent wonder as tears would drip from Handel's cheeks like the morning dew from lilies. They would mingle with the ink as they puddled on the pages. Once the servant found Handel sobbing with emotion. He had just finished the renown ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ which brought the Queen to her feet when she heard it sung. Handel said of this chorus, ‘I thought I saw all Heaven before me and the great God Himself.’ You can understand what He is saying if you have ever heard this chorus.” King of kings... Forever and ever, And Lord of lords... forever and ever. And He shall reign for ever and ever. And He shall reign for ever and ever. Ever since Jesus made His first public appearance, He had been trying to reach the nation of Israel. He was their Messiah and He did everything He could do to convince them of that truth. His miracles, His teachings, His compassion, and His power were all clear evidences that the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament had appeared. Yet, when Israel saw Jesus, they refused to accept Him as their Messiah, their Lord or their Saviour. Jesus was rejected by the religious leaders in Israel (Mark 8:11). He was rejected by the nation as a whole (Mark 6:3). He was even judged to be a mad man by His Own family (Mark 3:21). This total rejection is summed up by the Apostle John when he said, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11). Even as Jesus was attempting to reach Israel, He was also trying to teach His disciples. Jesus spent many months teaching them, displaying His power and revealing His identity to His men in powerful ways. For the longest time, they were blind to His identity. Even though they saw Jesus heal the sick, cast out demons, control the forces of nature, multiply bread and fish and raise the dead, they still could not grasp just Who Jesus was. Andrew followed Jesus without hesitation (John 1:37) and he immediately proceeded to introduce others to Christ (John 1:40-42). Andrew had met Jesus personally, and Jesus had met the crying need of his heart. Andrew could not contain the peace and joy, he just had to tell his loved ones immediately. He wanted them also to experience the love and joy and peace of Jesus. Andrew is still valuable to the Lord. Andrew's first concern was his brother Peter. The scene was striking. Immediately, after seeing Jesus for himself, Andrew rushed to find his own brother, Simon. Andrew was a great witness, a great personal worker for the Lord. He was always seen bringing someone to Jesus (John 6:8; 12:22). You do not have to be out in front to be valuable to the Lord. Andrew is the man we find introducing others to the Lord Jesus Christ. This should be the pattern adopted by all who follow Christ. This passage shows how Jesus looks at men. Jesus "beheld" Simon. The word "beheld" means a "concentrated, intent gaze that reads a man's heart." God knows us and what is in our hearts. Jesus not only sees a man as he is, but also what he will become and what is his potential. The Lord Jesus Christ not only sees the actualities in a man, but also the possibilities. In the person of Peter, the Lord saw a fisherman and a rock in the early church. Christ not only sees what we are, but what we can be. Jesus is Messiah, the Christ, Anointed One. Messiah is the Hebrew word, translated into Greek, as Christ. Both words mean "Anointed One". One especially appointed by God for His plan and purpose. He shall reign forever and ever, for He is the Lord Jesus Christ. God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name. At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow one day, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. He is the ONLY WAY to the Father in Heaven (John 14:6). He will receive you if you come to Him (John 6:37). PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for loving me and accepting me in Christ. Help me to live for You and to share Your message of salvation with 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 |
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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