3 Responsibilities Concerning the Will of God (I Thessalonians 5:15-18) – Part 3
I Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 3. Our Petition - In every thing give thanks: (I Thessalonians 5:18) The church in Thessalonica had reason for thanksgiving. They had faced much adversity, but God had been good and blessed them abundantly. Paul exhorted them to give thanks unto the Lord in every situation and circumstance. “In everything” refers to all that occurs in life. Because God is at work in our lives, and no matter what we go through He is there with us and He's working in us and through us, we can give thanks. Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” I know that we have a hard time being thankful for the trials of life, but they too are for our benefit. It is in our adversity that we learn to trust the Lord and are made more like Him. We will never face anything that our God is not able to handle. He is sovereign in every aspect of our lives. We can give thanks in every situation. In our praise to God we are to rejoice always and we are to give thanks in everything. God commands His people to give thanks to Him! We should give God praise, honor, and glory because of what He has given to us. God gave Jesus for us and when we trusted Jesus as our Lord, Jesus came into our heart. The reason I can give thanks in everything is because Jesus lives in my heart. Scripture says to give thanks “in” everything; not “for” everything. It includes good things and bad things, joys and sorrows, gains and losses, hurts and health, good news and bad news. In everything give thanks! At all times, in all circumstances, give thanks to God. We don’t have to be thankful for our trials. But we can be thankful in them since we know the Lord is going to use it for our good in the future. We don’t have to be thankful when a loved one dies; but we can be thankful that we know we will see them again; or the Lord will give us peace and strength to get through. Faith can give thanks in all things because faith realizes that whatever comes to pass comes to pass by the will of God. Give thanks because whatever your present circumstances, this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. This is a difficult command but a divine command. Thanksgiving to God is to be given in adversity and prosperity, for no matter what happens all things work together for the believer's good and for the glory of God. For Christians, there are no situations in which we cannot give thanks. A life of prayer and devotion leads to a thankful heart. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father, Your Word says to always give thanks and to give thanks in everything. Without Your help, that is impossible. Forgive me for all the times that I worry about my situation. 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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3 Responsibilities Concerning the Will of God (I Thessalonians 5:15-18) – Part 2
I Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 2. Our Prayer - Pray without ceasing! (I Thessalonians 5:17) Mr. Roger Babson, in an after-dinner address, made the following statement, "Prayer is the greatest unused power in the world, and faith is the greatest undiscovered resource”. Faith is a grasping of Almighty power; the hand of man laid on the arm of God; when the things impossible to us become the possible, O Lord, through Thee. Most of us have learned throughout the years that we must schedule a prayer time with God. This is a great practice because if we don’t plan to visit with the Lord, then it will get quickly swept away in the busyness of our day. John Bunyan said, “He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day”. I cannot emphasize the importance of prayer enough. It is the means by which we make our supplications known unto the Lord. “Praying without ceasing” doesn’t mean that one must pray every minute of every day. That would be impractical. It means to be regular, faithful, and steadfast in your prayer life. It carries the idea of consistency. We ought to always be in an attitude of prayer and communion with the Lord. We should always be in the mindset of prayer, even if we’re not physically on our knees or mouthing the words. This is what the Apostle Paul meant when he said, “Pray without ceasing”. God's people are to be a praying people. I fear that we often reserve prayer for church services, at meal time, or at the close of the day, but we need to be consistent and continual in prayer. Andrew Murray made this observation, “Prayer and life are inseparably connected. Which has the stronger influence over you, prayer for 5 or 10 minutes, or the whole day spent in the desires of the world? Let it not surprise you if your prayers are not answered. Learn this great lesson: my prayer must rule my whole life”. God gives us insights into getting our prayers answered. May we put these five principles into practice and see the Lord do great things. 1. Be Sanctified – James 5:16, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” 2. Be Searching – Jeremiah 29:13, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” 3. Be Sincere – Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” 4. Be Sorrowful – II Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 5. Be Submissive – I John 3:22, “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
Prayer: Father, I praise You that I can at anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstance come to You in prayer. My desire is to keep walking continually with You, so that my prayer may be the natural expression of my life with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. This is Part Two of a Three Part Series. Please visit our site tomorrow for Part Three. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 3 Responsibilities Concerning the Will of God (I Thessalonians 5:15-18) – Part 1
I Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Paul instructs all believers to do three things: Rejoice evermore; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks. All of God’s commandments in the Bible are beyond our ability to obey in the flesh, so we must rely on His indwelling Holy Spirit. If God leads you to do something, He will give you the strength, wisdom, and ability to fulfil it; you must trust Him. Keep in mind, what would be God’s will for someone may not be God’s will for you. But, rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks are always God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1. Our Praise - Rejoice evermore! (I Thessalonians 5:16) A Christian's joy does not spring from their circumstances, but from the blessings that are theirs because they are in Christ. “Rejoice always” does not mean to deny your feelings, put on a happy face, and never feel sad. So, what does Paul mean when he commands, “Rejoice always”? Remember, he wrote this to new believers who were suffering persecution because of their faith (I Thessalonians 3:3-4). So “rejoicing always” is a conscious attitude of contentment, hope, and happiness that comes from deliberately focusing on Christ and the eternal treasures that we have received freely from Him. Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” We are to rejoice in Jesus at all times. Rejoicing is better than complaining. It is also therapeutic for both the physical and the spiritual. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Proverbs 17:22). God has graciously laid hold of your life; He has chosen you (I Thessalonians 1:4). The Gospel has come to you with power (I Thessalonians 1:5), transforming your life now and your future (I Thessalonians 1:9). You have endured great trials (I Thessalonians 3:2), and Satan has launched some fierce assaults against you (I Thessalonians 3:5). But through it all, God has caused you to stand firm (3:8). Your testimony is a means of God's blessing to others (3:9). Look back over your Christian life and see what God has done: God has been teaching you (I Thessalonians 4:9). He has placed you among other believers who can encourage and build you up (I Thessalonians 5:11). He has revealed to you the ultimate outcome of your life: to be with the Lord forever in the great company of His people, with ever increasing joy (I Thessalonians 4:17). How can we develop a habit of rejoicing always? 1. SCRIPTURES: Everyday focus on the riches that God has freely given you in Christ. For example, Ephesians 1:3-14 says that you have all spiritual blessings in Him. God chose you in Him before the foundation of the world. 2. SPIRIT: Walk in the Spirit, not the flesh. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). To walk in the Spirit means daily to yield to Him and to rely on Him to control your life in every situation. It takes time to produce fruit. It doesn’t pop out on a tree the day after you plant it! But if you walk consistently by the Spirit, eventually the fruit of joy will be yours. 3. SING: If you’re feeling down, sing songs of God’s goodness, grace, and of His love. The longest book in the Bible is a songbook. Question to Consider: What could be more wonderful and pleasant than constant joy, prayer, and thanksgiving? Point to Ponder: Christian joy flows from realizing our position in Christ: who you are in Him, and what He has done for you. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I can rejoice today, not because of what I have done, but only because of what You have done for me. May I spend more time rejoicing and exalting You. In Jesus name, AMEN! This is Part One of a Three Part Series. Please visit our site tomorrow for Part Two. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Be Filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18)
Ephesians 5:18, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;” The Bible commands us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is a command for every believer, not just for ministers or those who are in full time ministry. We need God’s power for every aspect of life. When a person allows the Holy Spirit to control their life, He can demonstrate His power in whatsoever they do. A man once asked D. L. Moody why he focused so much about being filled with the Holy Spirit. Moody replied, “Because I leak!”. A man who drank heavily was converted to Christ and lived victoriously for several weeks. One day, as he passed the open door of a tavern, the pungent odor drifting out aroused his old appetite for liquor. Just then he saw this sign in the window of a nearby cafe: "All the buttermilk you can drink—25 cents!" Dashing inside, he ordered one glass, then another, and still another. After finishing the third he walked past the saloon and was no longer tempted. He was so full of buttermilk that he had no room for that which would be injurious to him. The lesson is clear: To be victorious over our evil desires, we must leave no opportunity for them to repossess us. Dwight L. Moody once displayed the principle like this, “Tell me", he said to the congregation, "how can I get the air out of the tumbler I have in my hand?" One man said, "Suck it out with a pump”. But the evangelist replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter it”. Finally, after numerous suggestions, Moody picked up a pitcher and filled the glass with water. "There”, he said, "all the air is now removed”. He then explained that victory for the child of God does not come by working hard to eliminate sinful habits, but rather by allowing the Holy Spirit to take full possession. It’s been said that every Christian is as full of the Holy Spirit as he or she chooses to be. We are filled with the Spirit as we are emptied of ourselves. It is said that when a group of churches met to consider inviting the evangelist D. L. Moody to come to England for a crusade, a young, prideful pastor protested, "Why do we need this 'Mr. Moody? He's uneducated, inexperienced, etc. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he have a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?" An older, wiser pastor rose and responded, "No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody”. We should not be controlled by wine because it can be excessive. Instead, we should be controlled by the Spirit, because you can’t get enough of that; you can’t be too filled with the Spirit. We must yield control of our lives to the Holy Spirit in the way that a drunkard yields control of his life to alcohol. This means allowing the Holy Spirit to control our every thought, action, and attitude. May you experience this “filling” of the Spirit even today as you live your life for Christ. God does not want control of our lives only for a while on Sundays, or when we are with others from the church. His plan is for His Spirit to control our steps every day in every area of life. Surrender your will to His and you will find yourself walking in the Spirit. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I give myself to You today that You may fill me, guide me, and control me that I may bring glory to You. 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 Hearing God’s Voice (John 10:27)
John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” There are many voices that we hear today from the television, radio, telephone, and even the computer. The difficulty for many isn't that they don't hear God's voice but many cannot discern the Lord's voice over all the other voices they hear. We hear words from our family, friends, and those we encounter while at work. There are so many things to discern. How do we know if we hear God amid all the other things competing for our listening ears? Even Samuel had a difficult time learning to discern God's voice while working in His temple (I Samuel 3). As Christians, we naturally learn to talk to God, but listening does not come as easily. We must learn to listen so that we can distinguish His voice over all the other voices and noises we hear. Today, God speaks to us through His Word as the Holy Spirit opens our minds to comprehend the Scriptures (Luke 24:45). In order to hear God's voice, first one must know Him personally. This is far different than knowing about Him or attempting to live for Him. This means to have a relationship with Him. Jesus came to earth for us to know Him personally and to give us a direct and very personal relationship with God. Once a person knows Him personally, they can begin to become sensitive to hearing Him when He is speaking to them. The listening process begins by reading and meditating on His Word. God speaks to us mostly through His Word. The more we read, the more we keep His Word in our hearts. His Words that are placed within our hearts and minds are the key to hearing His voice. His voice will not contradict with His Word, and His Word is applicable for everything in our lives. Our Christian life is a walk of faith. God honors our faith and blesses those who believe without seeing. This means that we will never receive a text, a voicemail, or an email personally written to us from God with His personal instructions to us. To practice God's presence in hearing His voice, we have to be able to accept His will. And we know that if it was God's voice, then it will be God's will. So, God is the One responsible for making a way to fulfill His will. God's voice will align with God's will. He will speak to you about big things as well as small. God has no favorites and He is willing that all will come. He promises wisdom to those who ask and He promises to be found by those who seek Him. He wants to reward you for seeking Him also. Through an ear of hearing His voice, we learn how to discern God's will and His ways. God honors childlike faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ (Romans 10:17). It takes practice to place His words in our hearts and to draw near to the Lord so He will draw near to us. Questions to Consider: Who have you shared Him with in the past six months? What part of hearing His voice or following Him is a particular challenge to you right now? Points to Ponder: Thank Him, talk to Him, and listen to Him as your Shepherd today. Determine today that you will submit to His leading. PRAYER: Lord, I ask You to allow me to be sensitive to Your voice and have the faith to know that You keep Your promises. Thank You for desiring a relationship with me. Thank You that Your Word brings peace, joy and life. Here I am Lord; fill me, use me, change me and send me. I desire Your presence above all things. 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 Consistent Prayer (I Thessalonians 5:17)
I Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” “Praying without ceasing” doesn’t mean that one must pray every minute of every day. That would be impractical. It means to be regular, faithful, and steadfast in your prayer life. It carries the idea of consistency. We ought to always be in an attitude of prayer and communion with the Lord. We should always be in the mindset of prayer, even if we’re not physically on our knees or mouthing the words. This is what Paul meant when he said, “Pray without ceasing”. God's people are to be a praying people. Martin Luther, when pressed by huge volumes of work, did not use it as an excuse to stop praying, but said, “I have so much to do that I cannot get on without three hours a day of praying”. Adoniram Judson, perhaps the greatest missionary ever sent out from American shores, was emphatic in his insistence upon prayer. I quote his words, "Be resolute in prayer. Make any sacrifice to maintain it. Consider that time is short and that business and company must not be allowed to rob thee of thy God". That was the man who impressed a mighty empire for God. A group of ministers were discussing I Thessalonians 5:17 one morning, but couldn't agree on its meaning. An elderly cleaning woman, scrubbing on her knees, raised up and expressed an opinion about this verse. She said, "When I go to bed at night, I thank the Lord for the joy of resting in His everlasting arms. When I awaken, I ask Him to open my eyes to behold new things from His Word. When I build the fire, I ask Him to kindle love in my heart. When I bathe, I ask Him to cleanse me from secret faults. When I eat, I thank Him for my food. As I walk to work, I pray to be led in paths of righteousness. As I pass the church, I pray for my pastor. While scrubbing these floors, I ask Him to wash the hearts of those walking above me with His precious blood...” And on she went. She had a pretty good understanding of that verse and knew just as much as those preachers. She knew the importance of consistency in prayer. God gives us insights into getting our prayers answered. May we put these five principles into practice and see the Lord do great things. 1. Be Sanctified – James 5:16, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” 2. Be Searching – Jeremiah 29:13, “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” 3. Be Sincere – Mark 11:24, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” 4. Be Sorrowful – II Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 5. Be Submissive – I John 3:22, “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
Prayer: Father, I praise You that I can at anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstance come to You in prayer. My desire is to keep walking continually with You, so that my prayer may be the natural expression of my life 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 Today’s devotion is an excerpt taken from the Bible Study page from our website. If you would like to read this article in its entirety, please open the Bible Study link. https://www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com/bible-study.html
Our Faithful God (II Thessalonians 3:3) II Thessalonians 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.” In II Thessalonians 3:3 of our text, Paul said, “…the Lord is faithful…” That was what the people in Thessalonica needed to hear, and it is the what you and I need to hear today. These thoughts remind us that our God is The Faithful God. I need to be reminded of that fact from time to time. One example of faithfulness is “Old Faithful” in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. It erupts every 60 minutes to 2 hours. Like Old Faithful, our Heavenly Father is faithful. God will be faithful to you because He is fully committed to you. He will keep every promise He has ever made in His Word! The LORD is faithful in many ways, but here are two: 1. He is faithful to forgive. 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.” Confession simply means being honest with ourselves and with God, and if others are involved, being honest with them, too. God is faithful to His promises. 2. He is faithful to forget. Hebrews 8:12, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” What comforting Scriptures. God knows everything, but there are some things He has chosen to forget. God will remember our sins no more. When He buries our sin, He chooses not to dig it up and throw it in our face. When we forgive someone, we bury the sin and we relinquish our right to dig it up and remind the person about it. It is important that we learn to forgive like Jesus and love others like He did. Prayer, Father, I can’t help but think of the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness” as I think about all You have brought me through. It is true that I have faced many trials and temptations. And as I look back, I see how You protected and strengthened me every time. Thank You for Your personal care for me! Help me to remember these things as new trials and temptations present themselves in the future. 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 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (Deuteronomy 33:27)
Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.” What a powerful and picturesque description of God’s protective care of His people. God is our refuge and support. Underneath are His everlasting arms that hold us up and support us. God pours His blessings out upon all His people, upon all who have truly dedicated their lives to God. These are the blessings that God will pour out upon all who have renewed their covenant and commitment with God. Four things are said of God here: 1. His Supremacy. “The eternal God” God is the eternal God. The finite mind cannot fully grasp eternity and what it means to have always existed. God is vastly superior to idols. He is beyond our comprehension. God is eternal. He has always existed. He had no beginning and will have no end. He is everlasting. There has never been a time when God did not exist as God. Being eternal, God has arms that are everlasting. This means a most wonderful thing: the everlasting arms of God are able to hold and support His precious people. What a great God indeed! 2. His Safety. "Is thy refuge” Our greatest protection is in God. Many ignore God and do not want God around. How foolish. Our nation needs Him for protection, which is the greatest protection of all. Individually, we need Him for protection. The greatest refuge God provides for mankind is soul salvation in Jesus Christ. It is protection we all need the most. 3. His Support. "Underneath are the everlasting arms" Like a great eagle that swoops under the young eaglets to keep them from falling when learning to fly, God will sustain us through every trial and difficulty. He keeps us afloat in stormy seas. God will not fail us. We often fail God, but He will never fail us. The eternal God is a support for His people. He places His everlasting arms underneath us, holding us up and supporting us through all the trials and temptations of life. 4. His Strength. "He shall thrust out the enemy from before thee" God is omnipotent. No enemy is too great for God. The enemy cannot match His power. We may lack strength in ourselves to drive out the enemy, but God is omnipotent. He will be there to give us the strength we need. God gives us victory, conquest, and triumph over all enemies who oppose us. The evening before Christ was betrayed, He spent several hours with His disciples sharing with them the details of His death. The Bible tells us that John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was ‘leaning upon the bosom” of Jesus, clinging to His every Word. When Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray the Lord, John went from “leaning on His bosom” to “lying on His breast” (John 13:23-26). The more tense and dramatic the circumstance became, the closer John got to Jesus. He was leaning on the Everlasting Arms. By definition alone, leaning implies placing all of your weight upon something or someone who is able to sustain the pressure. John so heavily leaned upon the Lord that if the Lord was to move John would have fallen. But Jesus didn’t move, and John didn’t fall. As believers, we are instructed to stand with Christ, walk with Christ, and even sit with Christ; but there are times when we have to lean. The confidence we have while leaning upon Christ is knowing that He can handle the weight. It is not coincidental that John was the only disciple who followed Jesus to the foot of the cross. Before he knelt at Calvary, he had been leaning on the Everlasting Arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear when I am Leaning on the Everlasting Arms! Four Points to Ponder: 1. Every one of us leans on someone or something to help us get through this life. 2. When the Lord sees us leaning on everyone and everything but Him, we can count on His teaching us the lessons we need so that we might learn to lean on Him alone. 3. There will always be times where we must lean on something or someone. Leaning isn’t bad; as long as we are leaning on the right One. 4. In every situation you go through, remember that Jesus is with you. He loves you, and loves to hear your voice. Lean on Him and trust in Him. PRAYER: Father, thank You for being my refuge and strength. There are many times I have failed to lean on You when faced with the overwhelming circumstances of life, but I pray that from this day forward, I would live in total dependence on You. As I have trusted You with my soul, help me to live my life with complete dependence on You. Strengthen me that I may stand fast in the evil day and to trust in 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 Beware of the Little Things (Song of Solomon 2:15)
Song of Solomon 2:15, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” Song of Solomon describes the love between a man and his wife. In many ways, it also pictures the love between Christ and the church. In a vineyard, the big foxes destroy the fruit of the vines, but the little foxes destroy the vines themselves. In the Christian life, the testimony connected with the Christian’s fruit is destroyed by His big, open sins (the sins of boasting, bragging, drunkenness, adultery, lying, etc.), but the divine life which produces his fruit is usually destroyed, not by the big, open sins but by the little hidden sins (the sins of neglect of prayer, neglect of Bible reading, neglect of meditation, wrong fellowship, unfaithfulness in church attendance, carelessness in speech, bad habits, etc.). The vines represent the vineyard of growing love between the two lovers. Tender grapes have resulted from their love, but there is a great danger to the continuing of this love. It is the danger of the little foxes. These foxes can spoil the vines on which is located the tender grapes. Therefore, our verse is a call to remove these “little foxes” so that the vineyard of love will continue to prosper. What are the little foxes? They are the seemingly little aggravations which can ruin love. They are little words and acts of conduct which can hurt the growth of love between a husband and a wife. These things seem like “little” foxes, but they can ruin the vineyard of love. 1. It’s the Small Things. Foxes are not large creatures. They are small and sly, skillful and swift. They usually come out at night when you can't see them, and they are especially gifted at hiding. Often you only recognize their presence after the damage has already been done. What at first seems small can blow up into something big over time if it is not dealt with. Little foxes love to ruin a vineyard with bitterness, criticism, jealousy, and neglect. Furthermore, ignoring them and thinking they will just go away and resolve themselves will only encourage the foxes to mate and multiply. Recognize from the very start that the health and success of your marriage is bound up in the little things of life. The Scriptures warns us to be careful of the little foxes, the small foxes that want to enter into our vineyard and corrupt it. The little foxes represent those things in our lives that seem to be small, insignificant, unimportant, those things that have just gotten a start in our lives. We must be careful letting new things get a grip in our life. Little foxes are very dangerous things; things that often go unnoticed, things that enter in unannounced, things that are unrestrained. 2. It’s the Sensitive Things. A marriage needs time to grow and bear fruit. It also needs protection because it is a tender and sensitive relationship, perhaps the most tender and sensitive of all. The fact is, we all come into marriage with baggage. Open the trunk of your life and you will see both the baggage of your past and the baggage of your personality. The odds are overwhelming that you are unaware of all the things in these two bags. Furthermore, it is almost certain that your mate has the same two bags but that the contents of those bags are altogether different from yours! Yes, it is often true that opposites attract, but it can also be true that opposites attack if we are not prepared in advance to deal with the baggage. 1) Mouth: Solomon said that little foxes can ruin the vineyards of our marriage. Some of the little foxes that can bring great harm to a marriage are the little cutting words of a husband and wife. It does not take a long critical dissertation to disturb the vines of love. Love thrives on compliments, not on cutting remarks. Many failed marriages started simply with little unkind words. 2) Manners. Little foxes can be poor manners. As an example, a husband does not have to abuse his wife to hinder the growth of their love. All he has to do is be inconsiderate and disrespectful. Failure to open a door or do some other menial but needed task of courtesy can be a little fox which nips at the vines of love and causes it to die. 3) Moods. Little foxes can also be poor moods. Failure to be pleasant and cheerful around your lover can be a cloud that stops the sunshine of love. It can be that little fox which nips at the vines and ruins them. If there is one place lovers need to keep pleasant and cheerful, it is the place where they are with their lovers. If we would be honest with ourselves, none of us plan on forsaking God, none of us have considered a specific time to fall by the wayside. The road to corruption never starts with something big or obvious; it always starts with giving heed to the insignificant, the unimportant, and the small. We drop our guard, we think that we have arrived, we feel secure in our own strength, but remember, it is not the lion or the bear that spoils the vines, it is the little, insignificant foxes that bring destruction. Little things can hurt devotion as well as big things. Take care that you do not let little things ruin your devotion to the Lord. Points to Ponder: He knows the little foxes. He knows your thoughts, your secret sins and words that have grieved Him. Little things can hurt devotion as well as big things. Take care that you do not let little things ruin your devotion to the Lord, your spouse, your family etc. Questions to Consider: Have you dropped your radar? Have you let the little things find entrance into your life? How many are running free in your life? It may have pricked your heart at first, but you explained it away, you excused it away, you failed to expose it for what it really was. Are you able to admit this? Can you call them out and expel them? PRAYER: Father, often I focus on the few major things rather than focusing on the many little things that are spoiling my relationship with You and my family. Help me to pursue You and daily chase away these little spoilers. 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 Fellowship Baptist Church (Hebrews 10:25)
Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Here we are already into another year. This year, as all others seems to be getting busier than the previous. The people who attend our church are incredibly busy, but they always make time for the things they care about. If you gave the same amount of time to your work as you do your church, how long would you hold your job? Regardless of how limited we may be, or how little we may feel, there is a ministry for each and every member of the body of Christ. At Fellowship, we have some of the hardest working, dedicated, committed, devoted, sacrificing, and loving group of believers I have ever been around. If we love God, we will love His children. All true Christian experiences will deepen our love for other Christians. Our church is in a coastal town. Being on the coast and centered for tourism, we get many visitors to our church. Often, I’ll ask the family or the couple, “How did you hear about us?” Their response varies from, “We found you on the internet”, “You were recommended in town”, or “Some church members invited us”. Recently, one of the couples that visited our church later emailed me with a very encouraging word. In short, their response read, “We prayed prior to seeking a church to visit for our vacation. We sought the Lord to choose a church, that is Christ-centered on the Word and driven by love. Upon entering your church, we were met by door greeters, who graciously welcomed us, making us feel at home, giving us a bulletin, and directing us to where the church gathers. Before we were seated, we were welcomed by several members, welcoming us to Fellowship Baptist. At this point, we could not wait to meet you. You had not yet preached your sermon, and we already knew this was a where God meets with His people. Everyone made us feel at home. Like your bulletin read: The Church You Are Looking For. Your sermon was what we needed to hear, and you did step on our toes. We hope to see you again soon, Here or in Heaven.” One of the first traits of the New Testament church was Christian fellowship. Fellowship means partnership, companionship, and association. After a person gets saved, his fellowship should change to being exclusively Christian (Ephesians 5:11). Every person is in actuality what or who he has been influenced by. Believers need Christian fellowship. A Christian’s partnership should be with Christ (Philippians 3:10), the saints (II Corinthians 8:4), the Gospel (Philippians 1:5), and the Holy Spirit (Philippians 2:1). There is no substitute for daily fellowship with the Lord. He should be first and foremost. Secondly, we should have fellowship with other Christians who are having fellowship with God. Christian fellowship can strengthen, protect, encourage, and help you to grow in your Christianity. You will indeed have fellowship with the Father and with His Son when you are nothing and Christ is everything. It has been said that everyone needs three homes. First, we need an eternal home. Our deed to this home is secured with the payment of Christ’s own blood. Then, we need an earthly home. No matter if it is a mansion on the hilltop or a cabin in the valley, home is that special place where we spend time with family. Finally, we need an extended home. Our extended home is none other than the local church. Every born-again believer needs to assemble himself with a local congregation. We are to unite our lives with the dynamic power of the church in order to carry out the orders of the Great Commission. Church is the launching pad for ministry. It is where we get instructions for life. It is where we connect for worship. It is where we administer the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit of God. There are many today who try to undermine the relevancy of the church; but the writer of Hebrews tells us, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another, so much the more, as ye see that day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). The closer we get to our eternal home, the more faithful we should be to our extended home. Today, the term “Christian” has become very generic so that it means anyone who is born in a Christian country or of Christian parents. A true Christian believes, studies, follows, and obeys the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. As John put it in I John 2:6, “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked”. As a believer, I should not only bear the name Christian, but practice being one! Church is to be the place where God’s people are to be gathered together, where His Word is central, He is glorified, and His people are loving and growing. The church is the hope of the world. We understand that it is Jesus who is our hope, but it’s the body of Christ who communicates that hope. That’s us! That is a kind of church I want to be a part of. I pray that when God looks upon us (His church), He sees a place of happiness, hope, help, health, harmony, humility, hallelujah, and holiness where He is honored. Having the responsibility to carry out God’s message of salvation is a great responsibility. The Gospel is precious, and I hope the Lord is pleased with how we carry out His Great Commission. Prayer, Father, thank You for saving my soul and adopting me into Your family; for placing me into a local church where I can worship, serve, and minister with other believers. I ask You for this work in my life. In Jesus name, Amen. 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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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