Lessons on Longsuffering – Part 2
Finding Joy in Suffering (Romans 5:3-5) Romans 5:3-5, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. ABC's of Trials Although things are not perfect Because of trial or pain, Continue in thanksgiving Do not begin to blame. Even when the times are hard, Fierce winds are bound to blow; God is forever able-- Hold on to what you know Imagine life without His love; Joy would cease to be. Keep thanking Him for all the things Love imparts to thee. Move out of "Camp Complaining"-- No weapon that is known On earth can yield the power Praise can do alone. Quit looking at the future, Redeem the time at hand. Start every day with worship; To "thank" is a command. Until we see Him coming, Victorious in the sky, We'll run the race with gratitude, Exalting God most high. Yes, there'll be good times; and, yes, some will be bad, but... Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!—Unknown We are given insight as to the work of troubles and trials. Most people groan in tribulation, but the perspective that comes from salvation changes one's view of life's experiences to the extent that trials bring rejoicing more than complaining. The idea is because we are now at peace with God, having access to His grace, and having standing before Him; we also glory in tribulations. Because of the riches of His grace in saving us, we not only can endure troubles, we can rejoice in them because of our standing in Christ. The Bible teaches that God wants to work a character quality in your heart known as patience. Patience has the sense of ‘endurance’ or ‘perseverance.’ Trouble and persecution, especially for Christ’s sake, produce the added benefit of determination to continue. What are some reactions when troubles come? How do you respond? One of the greatest marks of your faith and your confidence in the Almighty is your endurance, your perseverance when trouble comes. This is a guarantee that not only are we saved now, but we will still be saved when we stand before God. As a believer I can have full assurance of salvation. What a promise! The love of God changes everything! God's love was shed abroad in our hearts at the time of our salvation. Our hope is backed up by the love of God. This is where it all started (John 3:16). If it were not for the sacrificial love of God there would be no hope of salvation. God’s love is an amazing love that is never depleted! Our hope is a sure thing because it is grounded upon the love of God. Are you experiencing a major setback in your life? Has a health problem sidelined you? Is some obstacle keeping you from reaching your fullest potential? Don’t give up. God can use your hardships to accomplish in you what no one else could ever do. His plan has not been hindered by your limitations — rather, if you trust Him, it may be heightened by them. With His help you can thrive. PRAYER: Lord, thank You for my salvation, and the hope that I have in Christ. Give me a teachable spirit and a willingness to rejoice in the Lord, no matter what difficulties and I have to face. May my life be a testimony to Your goodness and grace, 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
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Lessons of Longsuffering – Part 1
The Blessings of Pressing On! (James 1:2-4) James 1:2-4, My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. His father was a shopkeeper in Nantucket, but Rowland left home at the age of 15 to sail the Atlantic with whale hunters. Returning to Massachusetts four years later, he worked for several years in his father's shop before opening his own needle-and-thread store in Boston in 1844, but it was soon bankrupt. Rowland began selling dry goods in 1846, but this store also failed. He briefly worked in his brother-in-law's Boston shop, then fled to California in the 1849 gold rush. Finding no wealth out west, he returned to Massachusetts and opened a dry goods store in Haverhill, Massachusetts in 1851, in partnership with his brother. This store was a modest success, but in 1858 Rowland left Haverhill and opened a small store of his own in a low-rent neighborhood in New York City. In New York, Rowland found major success. His store became known for its then-innovative policy of clearly marking prices, and advertising those prices in newspaper ads. Rowland H. Macy started Macy’s Department Store. The red star in the Macy's logo was Mr. Macy's idea, inspired by a red-star tattoo on his forearm from his whaling days. By the time of his death in 1877, Macy's store had grown to a tangle of eleven connected buildings on New York's 13th and 14th Streets. How do you know when you have suffered long enough? Let the suffering have its work in you. Be patient and let the suffering that you’re going through work in you what God is trying to mature in your life. There are reasons why God allows sufferings in your life. Let God put in what He is trying to put in and let Him take out what He is trying to take out. Wait until the Lord’s done. We want the suffering to stop when we say we’re done. We must wait until the Lord is done. Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” This verse helps many who are suffering to persevere because of the benefits of its promise. I want to see the end and what God has for me in the end. I want to be faithful and not quit. Press on when you feel like giving up. Nothing is more essential to success in the Christian life than to persevere, to press on. Faith gets you started; joyful steadfastness keeps you going. God is even more interested in growing your perseverance than you are! Almost everything He allows in your life has the purpose of developing your perseverance. That is why James 1:3 teaches that your faith is tested - not so your faith will fail, but to produce in you an achieving steadfastness that results in joy. PRAYER: Lord, I know that when this trial is over I’ll be a better person because of it. Forgive me for being unsettled. I know You are refining my character and through this I’ll be a better Christian for it, fit for Your use. 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 God’s Word: Inspirational and Instructional (II Timothy 3:16-17)
II Timothy 3:16-17, All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. There are many books in the world today that are based on man's opinion of something. Whether the topic is politics, sports, the weather, self-help, or society, sometimes not everything published in a book is true. But there is one book we can trust. We know God's Word is true because it comes from God. In a day when so many things are based on opinion, God's Word is based on truth - all 66 books; 39 in the Old Testament, 27 in the New Testament. Every one of 1,189 chapters. All 41,173 verses and 3,566,480 letters--all Scripture is God-breathed. The greatest verse about Biblical inspiration is also a great verse about Biblical application. II Timothy 3:16-17 not only tells us who gave us the Bible but also why it was given. God breathed out His Word for our benefit. Every part of it is profitable. Waiting in its pages is a wealth of blessings ready to teach, reprove, correct, and train us in righteousness. We call the Bible “God’s Word” because it contains what He wants to say. He speaks into our lives through it. Each verse and every word accomplish at least one of the purposes listed in today’s passage. No matter what our need, God has provided a response in His Word. 1. The Bible teaches us. The word doctrine means that which is correct and right (core teaching). Whatever we find in Scripture is truth that's worth being taught. Every time we read it, we should be asking, what is God teaching me in this passage? 2. God’s Word reproves us. The word reprove means what is wrong. It is the precision instrument of the Holy Spirit, often stopping us in our tracks through the conviction of sin. When the Lord says “Don’t” in Scripture, He always means, “Don’t hurt yourself.” He graciously reprimands us. 3. God’s Word also corrects us. The word correction means how to get (it) right. A sincere Child of God wants to stay right with the Scriptures. Notice: It is we, not the Bible, that needs correcting. The Scriptures never need adding to, correcting, nor updating. It not only points out the wrong, it also provides the right response. The Bible straightens out our lives like nothing else. On our own we steer in wrong directions, but God consistently directs us in the way we should go. 4. Scripture trains us in righteousness. The phrase instruction in righteousness speaks of how to keep it right. It is an absolute guide for the lifelong process of discipleship God wants to bring about. We will never outgrow our need for His guidance. Truth, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness are all ways God brings light to our lives by His Word. When we need to see where we are, where we’ve been, and where we’re going, we have a trustworthy source of guidance in the book God wrote. This is the picture described in Psalm 119:105, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Note the last phrase in the verse: “. . . That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” All that God has for you in His Word may come to you if you dig into it. But if your Bible remains closed, though the benefits are all there, you have not accessed them. Amazing things can happen when you open your Bible. Get familiar with it. Figure out how to find your way around. Ask for help. The spiritual maturity you long for will never be a reality until you practice regular, careful study of Scripture. Becoming a disciple of Jesus—one who is equipped to carry out the tasks He places before you—will always involve His Word. When you are reading His inspired thoughts, the Lord is breathing into you His truth, loving reproofs, gracious correction, and the guidance you need. Questions to Consider: What parts of Scripture do you gravitate to most often? Which ones do you tend to avoid? Since it’s all profitable, how do you think you could benefit by taking time to familiarize yourself with books and chapters of in the Bible you have rarely visited? Prayer, Lord, thank You for breathing out Your Word and using faithful servants to record it for the rest of us. Thank You that I can hold it in my hands, open it at will, and anticipate that the words my eyes fall on are for my benefit, to teach, rebuke, correct, and train me. I desire that every time I read the book You wrote I would delight myself in it. I thank You today, for the precious gift of 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 When God Says, Wait! (Psalm 37:1-9)
Psalm 37:1-9, Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. Waiting in one of the hardest things we try to do. So many people simply cannot wait for God to work and often take things into their own hands instead. When we seek God and His answer seems to be "wait," we don't always hear it because that answer is not the one we are seeking. Often believers view waiting on God as inactivity. But waiting is not inactive; it is pro-active. It is the believer wisely choosing not to do something blindly, because he or she senses the Lord is saying "wait." If we are to follow God or hear from God, we must be sensitive to His Spirit and discern when we are to step out in faith and when we are to wait. What God desires is that we would delight in Him. These verses list a lot of practical things we must do before God will give us what we are seeking. What are some evidences that we are not "waiting on the Lord" in our hearts (Psalm 37:1)? Fretting and being envious are evidences that we are not really waiting in our hearts. What needs to come before the Lord will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:3-5)? We must trust Him and do good. We are called to delight in Him so that He can begin to shape our desires. We need to commit our way to Him, and let Him do it. The pivotal verse in Psalm 37 is verse7. Instead of becoming heated or stirred up over evildoers, we should calmly rest in the Lord. Rest means to be silent and still, to be quiet and to settle one’s nerves, to be at peace. It indicates the absence of emotional distress and the ability to be quiet and relax. We should rest in the confidence that God will deal with the wicked. God works according to His timetable, not ours. We need to wait patiently for Him and be at peace. Psalm 37:7, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." But why? I believe there are lessons God teaches us through waiting on Him. 1. Waiting teaches us to keep our eyes on Him, not on our circumstances. In 2018, for nine months, Joy was very ill. Through it all, learning to wait on the Lord, strengthened our faith in Him and confirmed our love for one another. 2. Waiting teaches us that the giver is more important than the gift. A child who always gets what he wants when he wants it is not a grateful child and ultimately isn't happy. Waiting helps us put life in perspective, and often it causes us to come to grips with what we have rather than complaining about the things we don't have. 3. Waiting demonstrates faith in God instead of in ourselves. Waiting is a choice. It’s a decision that says, “I only want what God will provide, final!” What God provides is far greater than what we can do on our own. When you live without worry and doubt, you will come to realize the rich blessings God has given you. You will see the fruits of serving Christ. Are you waiting on the Lord for your decision? If you are not, you will find yourself making things happen on your own. Those who are unwilling to wait for God’s will are foolishly making the choice to forfeit His will. Question to Consider: Are you completely satisfied with God's blessings in your life? Point to Ponder: Every time you think about complaining, think of a praise instead. You will start developing the patience needed to live a contented life. Prayer: Father in Heaven, I trust You, and I’m going to wait for Your timing. Forgive me for the times I’ve worried and doubted You. Teach me to trust and wait for You to act. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The 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 drives 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 than 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 to 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 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. 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. Points to Ponder: · Most of the time God keeps us from a tragedy. · Sometimes God allows tests to come upon us for our good. · When God does allow trials to come into our lives, He is there to strengthen us and to help us bear it. Questions to Consider: · What ways has the Lord delivered you from tragedies? · What areas in your life do you need to trust Him with? · How has your faith been strengthened through the trials you have faced? 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 Serve Jesus? … Do It Now (John 9:4-5)
John 9:4-5, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. It was Joshua who said in Joshua 24:15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose, land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua's mind was made up to serve the Lord no matter what anyone else was going to do. Paul encouraged the church at Ephesus to be busy for the Lord, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). The point is that we should make the most of every opportunity we have—even more because of the evil that infiltrates our culture. Do your best for God and work while there is still time. God used Adoniram Judson because of his commitment to serve the Lord and availability to Him. Adoniram Judson sweated out Burma's heat for 18 years without a furlough. He went six years without a convert. Enduring torture and imprisonment, he admitted that he never saw a ship sail without wanting to jump on board and go home. When his wife's health broke and he put her on a homebound vessel in the knowledge he would not see her for two full years, he confided to his diary: "If we could, I would find some quiet resting place on earth where we could spend the rest of our days in peace..." But then Judson steadied himself with this remarkable postscript: "Life is short. Millions of Burmese are perishing. I am almost the only person on earth who has attained their language to communicate salvation..." Judson was committed to serving the Lord. Perhaps, this is why we are still talking about him today over 170 years after his death. We are not only to serve the Lord, we are to be a spokesman for Him. It’s been said, "The best ability is availability." The best thing we can do is make ourselves available to God for His service, whether it is in our family, our neighborhood, our church, or on foreign soil. We should take advantage of every opportunity we have to minister, serve, and witness for the Lord. We are to make our life a mission for God, not an intermission. The time to serve the Lord is while we can, to live for Him today. Tomorrow may not come for you. Make yourself available to the Lord each day. May we all have Isaiah's attitude, "Here am I Lord, send me." I wonder how many of us trust God enough that when we hear Him simply call our name we can say, “Here am I…whatever You need, You have it…whatever You want, I will do it.” Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
Prayer: Father in Heaven, I don't know who or what will cross my path today, but help me to bring you glory today. Help me to be productive, patient, persistent, and perceptive. Help me to always work with diligence and may I make a lasting impact for Your kingdom. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com This morning’s devotion is an excerpt from our Bible Study link. You can view this complete study in its entirety by visiting this sites Bible Study link.
Sick and Tired of Sin (Proverbs 28:13) Proverbs 28:13, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. The story is told of two men from Ireland that discovered an unusual turtle. The head of the turtle had been completely chopped off from its body, but the turtle was still crawling around as if nothing had happened. The two men argued over the turtle. One claimed it was alive and the other that it was dead. As they argued, their voices escalated, attracting the attention of a third Irishman. It was decided that this third man would arbitrate the matter and that he would give the final verdict. The arbitrator took one look at the turtle and proclaimed, "It's dead, but he don't believe it!" This is the same problem that many believers have today. They are dead to sin, but they do not believe it. They do not believe they are no longer under the compulsion of sin. If the Christian sins, he does it because he chooses to do so. You and I don't have to because we are under new management. According to Romans 6:1-16, being dead to sin has to do with our spiritual position in Christ. When you become a Christian, God not only forgives your sins, but He declares you righteous, and He sees you in Christ, identified with Him. Because Christ arose from death, we also now have a new life spiritually in Him. We too have died and been made alive in Christ. Sin no longer has rule over us. If allowed, sin will reign in our body. It will take over as a ruler. Therefore, we should be living unto God rather than in sin. When a man is executed for a crime, he is freed from the crime when he is dead. The case is closed. We died with Christ on the cross; our penalty has been paid; sins power has been broken. We are freed from sin. In other words, we don't have to serve sin. We are free from sin, not free to sin. Because of the frailty of men, Christians still yield to their sinful natures and temptations, even though they do not have to do this. It’s simple, Christians have a choice in the matter to do that which is right or wrong. Little by little sin is made to appear less sinful. There was a time when sin shocked some of you that it's not shocking now. Lucille Ball said one time, "I'm shocked that I'm not shocked anymore." People used to blush when they were ashamed. Now they are ashamed if they blush. Modesty has disappeared and a brazen generation with no fear of God before its eye’s mocks at sin. We are so fond of being called tolerant and broadminded that we wink at sin when we ought to weep, Vance Havner. Keep in mind, God has never been casual about sin! Prayer: Father in Heaven, thank You for forgiving me of my sins. What You say about my sin is true. Sin hurts me. It destroys my relationships with others, and it separates me from finding my blessings in You. Convict me of the sin that harms me and help me to turn from it. Help me to see the sinfulness of my sin so that I might enjoy the goodness and freedom of Your grace. Help me to love and live like Your Son Jesus. 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 On Fire for God (James 5:16)
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.. In 1935, Blasio Kugosi, a schoolteacher in Rwanda, Central Africa, was deeply discouraged by the lack of zeal in the church and the ineffectiveness of his own life. He followed the example of the first Christians by seeking the Lord's power in his life. He closed himself in seclusion for a week of prayer and fasting in his little bungalow. Revival gripped his heart, mind, and soul. He emerged a changed man. The bungalow became a furnace for God which set him on fire spiritual. He confessed his sins to those he had wronged, including his wife and children. He proclaimed the Gospel in the school where he taught, and revival broke out there, resulting in students and teachers being saved. They were called abaka, meaning "people on fire." Shortly after that, Blasio was invited to Uganda to share with other Christians what God had been doing. As he called the leaders to repentance, the fire of the Holy Spirit breathed again on the place, with similar results as in Rwanda. Several days later, Blasio died of fever. His ministry lasted only a few weeks, but the revival fires sparked through his ministry swept throughout East Africa and continue to the present. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been transformed over the decades through this mighty East African revival. It all began with a discouraged Christian setting himself apart to seek the Lord and the fullness of God's Spirit in his life. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. “Effectual fervent” has the sense of being ‘energized.’ What James is driving at is that effective prayer is fervent and from the heart. When a man will pour out his heart in prayer, God tends to hear the same. James then refers to a “righteous man.” He, no doubt, intends one righteous in his position in Christ; being justified. But he also likely refers to one righteous in his living, who is pleasing to God. When a Christian, one righteous not only in his position but also in his person, comes to God in fervent energized prayer, that prayer will avail much. The word availeth literally means to be ‘strong.’ In other words, prayer that is so strong, it accomplishes what was intended. “I’d rather be able to pray than be a great preacher; Jesus Christ never taught His disciples how to preach, but only how to pray.”--D. L. Moody Prayer is hard work and takes energy. God desires that we seek Him out. Nothing will impact your life more than seeking the LORD and the sweet fellowship we have with Him. Those who seek the Lord will achieve understanding and clarity. God gives wisdom. Deuteronomy 4:29, But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. They will also find Him. Proverbs 8:17, I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. The word "find" means "to discover, understand, to recognize, to gain knowledge." He wants us to find Him and know Him. “There is more that you can do after you pray, but there is nothing you can do until you pray.”--Dr. Curtis Hutson Seeking the Lord is the greatest of all searches. There is no doubt that God wants every Christian to seek Him and to be right with Him. When we confess our sins to Him He will hear us and cleanse us every time (I John 1:9). When it comes to our physical burdens God may lift them, lighten them or leave them. In each case, He will supply us with His grace and help us to move forward with our life. We need to trust God and realize that He knows what is best for our life. We need to pray with an urgent desire and not be apathetic in our approach. God wants us to come to him with passion (Hebrews 4:16). May we be bold in our praying. God encourages us to pray and lets us know that He wants to answer and do great things in our life (Jeremiah 33:3). God not only can answer our prayers but do far more than we expect (Ephesians 3:20). One of the great tragedies of modern-day Christianity is that we simply do not pray as we should. The Lord has placed all of the power and resources of Heaven at our disposal to do His work, yet we “have not, because [we] ask not”. The greatest enemy to answered prayer is unbelief. The Devil cannot keep God from answering our prayers, so he seeks to keep us from asking. He does all that he can to prevent our prayers. If we have faith enough to ask, we should have faith enough to believe that God hears and knows our need and supplies wisdom in every situation. A lack of faith will always hinder God from working in and through our lives. When we pray, we are not to waver. “What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use—men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.”--E.M. Bounds 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 Your Labour is Not in Vain in the LORD (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. Doctor Jonas Salk is among the most venerated medical scientists of the twentieth century. He went into medical research at New York University medical school and in 1938 he began working with microbiologist Thomas Francis, Jr. Together, they developed a vaccine for influenza that was used by the armed forces during World War II. In 1947 Salk began to study the poliovirus with hopes of creating a vaccine against that disease, as well. Finally, in 1955, after some 200 unsuccessful vaccines for polio, human trials of the polio vaccine proved to be effective in protecting the subjects from the poliovirus. When news of the discovery was made public on April 12, 1955, Salk was hailed as a miracle worker. He further endeared himself to the public by refusing to patent the vaccine. Somebody asked him one time, "How did it feel to fail 200 times trying to invent a vaccine for polio?" This was his response: "I never failed 200 times at anything in my life. My family taught me never to use that word. I simply discovered 200 ways how not to make a vaccine for polio." 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. “Immovable” speaks of the believers keeping a secure footing when they take a faithful stand for holiness and against what is unholy. May nothing jar them loose from their convictions. They must keep fixed, steadfast in their position and course without swerving or letting something budge them away. “Always abounding” speaks of our duty to not just do God’s work, but to abound therein. We are directed to do over and above the norm. Serving Jesus Christ is rarely easy. There is often opposition, disappointment, and setbacks. It is work which may exhaust physically, emotionally, and at times spiritually. But praise God, your labour is not in vain in the Lord. There is a reward for the righteous. There are rewards for serving Jesus Christ. And someday in glory you will rejoice, it was worth it all. 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.” Prayer: LORD, help me remember and to never forget those times in the midst of life’s struggles when I was at the point of throwing in the towel, You gave me grace to endure and I achieved the task You set before me. Keep me looking unto Jesus as I run the Grace Race, and may my flame never die out. 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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