Death to Self (II Corinthians 5:14-15)
II Corinthians 5:14-15, For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Paul expresses his motive for dedicated ministry. Christ’s love for Paul was reflected in his love for Christ. It compelled him to continue. Because Jesus Christ died for us, we ought not therefore live unto ourselves, but unto Him which died for us. The doctrine of the substitutionary death of Christ must stir total dedication to Him in day-to-day living. Love for Christ ought to constrain us to serve Him. Peter Cameron Scott was a gifted young singer whose dream was to be a famous. He was on the steps of an audition when he faced the crucial decision of his life. Would he seek a life of self-glory and applause under the spotlight of the entertainment world, or would he dedicate his life to God’s service? The decision was final. He chose to serve God. He recruited others to join him in the cause of reaching Africa with the gospel. With seven others, including his brother and sister, Peter went to Africa in October, 1895. Peter’s brother died from the harsh conditions. Peter built his brother’s coffin and dug the grave himself. In his first year’s report, four stations had opened, educational and medical programs had been set up, and linguistic training was successful. Just 14 months after this optimistic report, Scott, age 29, fell ill and died in December, 1896. Soon after, workers died and many others had to give up for health reasons. The area became known as “the white man’s graveyard.” By the summer of 1899, only one missionary remained on the field. More missionaries died than people became Christians during those first years. But other missionaries came, packing their belongings in coffins. The Africans were amazed by their determination. They said, “Surely only a message of great importance would inspire such actions!” In 1971, the Africa Inland Mission became the Africa Inland Church, numbering about one and a half million. Dedicated service touches every area of our lives. Whether it be full-time service, secular work, or volunteer service, all should be done to the glory of God, with efficiency and fervency. Paul was gripped by a great God. God's grip moves us to live our lives for the Lord and not ourselves. Paul said the love of God constrained him. The love of Jesus Christ motivated and controlled Paul's life to share with others the Gospel. The overpowering love of Christ was demonstrated when He died on the cross for us. Stephen F. Olford said, “You can never be devoted without being dynamic. You will never be dynamic without being determined.” Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” When a man asked George Müller the secret of his service, Müller responded: “There was a day when I died, utterly died; died to George Muller, his opinions, preferences, tastes, and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends; and since then I have studied to show myself approved only to God.” Points to Ponder: · The love of Christ calls for a monumental response. · We are indebted to Jesus Christ because of the sacrifice He made for our sins on the cross. · We owe Him our all: life, health, spiritual progress, and our spiritual and material blessings. · We should serve Him as long as we live. · Our love for Him should move us to live for Him and let the Lord live His life through us. Questions to Consider: · What is your measure of love for Christ? Is it cold, lukewarm, or hot? · Are you serving your Saviour today? · Have you fully considered the sacrifice He made for you? · What would it take to motivate you to serve the Lord as long as you live? · Will you serve the Lord as long as you live? PRAYER: Lord, my love for You is not as strong as I would like it to be, but my desire is to present my body to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You. May every area of my life bring pleasure to You. Help me to surrender my will to Yours. Help me to step out in faith moment by moment as I surrender my life to You. Father, take my life I pray, and use it as You will. I choose today to surrender my all to You. In Jesus Name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Sights Set on the Saviour (Matthew 6:34)
Matthew 6:34, Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Our Father wants us to be calm and confident because we have had the faith to appropriate His strength on a daily basis. We'll always rest securely in the Lord if we follow these instructions continually. The future belongs to God. Our Father doesn't want us to be concerned with the future. He wants us to trust Him to take care of everything today. Jesus said, Matthew 6:34, Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. When we're tempted to be worried and anxious, we should meditate continually on God's promises. If we do this, our Father's promises will lift us up and encourage us. Psalm 94:19, In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul. If we focus continually upon the problems we face these problems will seem to be much worse than they actually are. Our Father wants us to do exactly the opposite. He wants us to focus continually on the promises in His Word. If we focus constantly upon God's promises we'll be so close to our Father that the problems we face won't be able to pull us down. Our Father wants us to focus continually on Him and not on our problems. Isaiah 26:3, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. This passage of Scripture promises that God will guard us and keep us in perfect and constant peace. Our Father has promised to constantly give us His wonderful peace if we will do what He tells us to do. This promise is conditional. God will guard us and keep us in perfect and constant peace if we do our part. Our part is to filter our thoughts through God. We must resist the temptation to focus on our problems. If we saturate ourselves continually in the Word of God, we'll be able to keep our character under God's power. Our faith will be strong. We'll be able to lean on God and place all of our hope and our confidence in Him. Psalm 25:15, Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. We panic when we know we can't solve a problem and we don't deeply believe the Lord will solve the problem for us. If we focus continually on the Lord, we won't be shaken by the problems we face. We can't allow our problems to distract us from focusing constantly on Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus is our Leader. He is the Source of our faith. Our faith should be anchored upon Him. Jesus is the Finisher. If we focus continually on Him and if we trust totally in Him Jesus will bring us safely through the problems we face. Questions to Consider: Is worry crippling your prayer life, keeping you from prayer? Is worry hindering your Bible study making, you not concentrate on the passages you are reading? Is worry stopping your productivity at the office, keeping your mind from focusing on your daily tasks? Points to Ponder: Then I ask you to take your concerns to the throne of grace. Spend time praying about each of your concerns. Then spend some time in Bible study. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you a specific scripture to help you with your problem. Then go about your day with a calm spirit, knowing that God is faithful and has promised to help. PRAYER: Lord, I know that You don’t want me to live consumed with worry. You want me to live life, guarded by Your peace. Please engulf and guard my heart with it. Remind me, Father, that peace is not the absence of problems in my life but the calm assurance that what You’re doing is best. You have never failed me, and You will never fail me—my confidence is in You. I pray this in Jesus’ name! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com FEAR NOT! (Psalm 56:3-4)
Nothing comes into your life but what Almighty God allows. Sometimes He says, “I will let her go through that. She will draw upon My strength.” God may also say, “No. I will not allow that. It will overwhelm him. He is not ready.” Nothing comes into your life that God doesn’t already know about. And since He is with you, you don’t have to fear. Can fear be avoided entirely? Probably not. But Scripture gives us an alternative plan that prepares against and responds to fear. Psalm 56:3 says, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” God's Word gives us hope when we find ourselves overtaken by fear. Instead of staggering in it, we can put our trust in Him. We can deliberately turn away from fear and toward the Lord. Many have sought refuge in the Lord in their times of fear. In 1947, missionaries Dick and Margaret Hillis settled with their four children by the Mule River in the Honan province of China. Nearby, a mission church swelled with nearly a thousand Chinese every Sunday. It would have been a happy time but for the impending war between Chiang kai-Shek and the forces of Mao Tse-tung. One day, Nationalist Captain Hwang urgently told Dick, "The Communists are marching on the Mule River Market. You better take your family and flee." It was too late, however. The Communists had blown up all the railroad bridges. That evening the Hillis family heard the first shots and soon the battle raged around them. There was no sleep as they spent the night in prayer. The city soon fell, and the streets were filled with a swarm of Communist troops. Then a new danger arose. Captain Hwang, outside the city walls, was lobbing shells at the Communist soldiers. The bombing reached a crescendo one night as each shell dropped closer to the Hillis home. The house next door exploded into flames and splinters, killing all that lived within it. It appeared that the Hillis home would be obliterated next. The family huddled together in the corner as another shell exploded shooting dirt, glass, and bricks through the windows and walls. The house trembled and quaked as the bombs exploded. The children screamed and were momentarily deafened by the explosions. The family prepared for death when suddenly the shelling stopped. The family emerged from the corner into a room that was filled with debris, but no one was hurt. Dick tucked the children into bed that night. When he knelt by Margaret Anne, he noticed a dirty scrap of paper stuffed under her pillow. On it was printed in big, childlike letters these words: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." During her nights of terror in China, little Margaret was learning to be still and rest in God's care in her time of fear. God wants us to do the same. David confronted his fear with unwavering trust in the Lord and by praising the Lord for the reliability of His Word. David cried out, What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. He knew the antidote to fear. It is trusting God. When fear grips our heart, the escape is to trust Him. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Taking God at His Word is the essence of trust. David, no doubt, reflected upon the promises of God’s deliverance which he found in the Word. David praised God’s Word and he was not afraid what men might try to do to him. His trust was in God and in His Word. David had nothing to fear. God's Word gives many reasons why we need not fear. Here are a few of those reasons. 1. He is our Safekeeper—The Lord will protect us. (II Kings 6:16) 2. He is our Shadow—God is with us and will bless us. (Genesis 26:24; Isaiah 43:1-3) 3. He's on our Side—God is on our side. (Psalm 118:6) 4. He does Significant things—Great things God will do. (Joel 2:21) 5. He is our Soldier—The Lord helps fight our enemies. (Deuteronomy 20:3-4) 6. He is our Spouse—Our Maker is our husband. (Isaiah 54:4-5) 7. He is Stable—God will not fail or forsake us. (I Chronicles 28:20) 8. He is Steadfast—The Lord is consistent. He changes not. (Malachi 3:5-6) 9. He is our Strength—The Lord will strengthen and help us in weakness. (Isaiah 41:10) 10. He has Superiority over Death—There is life beyond the grave. The Lord has conquered death. (Revelation 1:17-18) 11. He is our Supplier—God supplies our needs. (I Kings 17:13; Philippians 4:19) 12. His Surveillance is Upon Us—God watches over us and cares for us. (Matthew 10:30-31) Prayer, Father, I confess that sometimes my fears reveal I’m not trusting You as I know I should, but trusting in something or someone else instead. Thank You for reminding me just how fragile everything else is compared with You. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking me. Thank You for never letting me down and always proving Yourself trustworthy. Help me learn to trust You increasingly and banish fears from my life. 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 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. 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. 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 your 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. James taught this same truth. James 4:10, Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Do you want to be honored? If so, then you need to have humility. Points to Ponder: · The place to start being honest is at home, them at school or work. · Only as we humble ourselves do we receive the grace of God for victory in our daily lives. Questions to Consider: · How can you apply humility in your own life today? · How can you make your work more honest and God-honoring? 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 Three Men and Their Foolish Choices (II Corinthians 6:2)
II Corinthians 6:2, For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Every choice and decision we make we have to live with. Some of the choices and decisions we make are not so costly. However, when it comes to life and death and where we will spend eternity, it should be a decision one takes very seriously. Life is not only fleeting (short) but it is also fragile. 1. Felix Said - "Not Right Now" Acts 24:24-25, And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. Rather than accepting Christ as his Lord and Saviour, Felix chose to put it off and wait for a more convenient time. This man chose not to receive, but reject, Christ. What a mistake he made! This foolish choice to procrastinate would become a fatal one. Deceitful people often have a way of manipulating their way around authorities. However, no one will ever be able to cheat death and the judgment. The wicked like to think that if they can avoid the Bible in this life, they are home free. Not so! It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Divine judgment awaits the sinner after his death. Men must answer to God for how they have lived here on earth. Those who die without Christ have no hope at the judgment. 2. Festus Said - "Not At All," Acts 26:24, And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. Festus’ main problem was that he never intended to hear Paul’s answer. Festus revealed how foolish he was when he opened his mouth and charged Paul with madness. Rather than getting right with God, Festus wanted to gain some personal glory with the new governor. He may have impressed his audience, however, he revealed his ignorance of God’s character. 3. Agrippa Said - "Almost" Acts 26:28, Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. Agrippa came so close to accepting Christ as his Lord and Saviour. However, he too rejected Him. This proves that one can come so close and still not accept Him. Almost is good, but it’s not good enough. Those who continue to choose to grieve away the Holy Spirit; if they continue to reject the Gospel and become hard hearted; if they go unprepared into eternity, the day of salvation for them will be gone forever and no mercy will be found. God does not design to pardon men beyond the grave. There is no forgiveness for your sins after you are dead. Those who are not pardoned in this life must be unpardoned forever in an eternal Hell. If you are a Christian, the opportunity to serve Christ and tell others is now. Don't throw your opportunities away. Now is the acceptable time to serve the Lord. Make your time count for Christ. Prayer, Father, may I live a life of Your guiding light, love, and lowliness that others would want to call upon Jesus for salvation without any hesitation. 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 Grappling with God (Genesis 32)
In Genesis 32, we find Jacob in a precarious position. His father in law Laban was behind him, while his brother Esau was before him. Years earlier, Jacob deceived Esau out of his birthright (Genesis 25). This incident brought about years of pain and vengeance to the point that Esau threatened to kill Jacob. Jacob still feared Esau’s revenge. Jacob was met with the possibility that his sin would find him out. What if Esau was set on vengeance? A guilty conscience doesn't need an accuser, nor will it let you blame someone else. Jacob was without excuse and he knew it. After all he had done to Esau, his conscience was pricked with the thought of his sin and deception. Again and again, Jacob was reminded of the fact that he was headed for a confrontation with his past and his sin. What he didn't know was that God was going to confront him before he ever got to Esau. Jacob was the one who said he wanted to serve God but attempted to do it in his flesh. The one who used carnal methods in hopes of achieving the blessings and promises of God. The one who saw life as one extended negotiation process, constantly looking for loopholes in lordship, obedience and holiness. Jacob's life was in conflict between his flesh and the Spirit. Jacob regarded his life as a wasted life. He had spent a great deal of energy and time running from God, fighting God, resisting the Lord, and deceiving people. We see his depravity against the framework of God's desire to use him. The good report is that Jacob didn't play the blame game. He didn't criticize how his parents raised him ,or reprimand what Laban did to him earlier. We will never be eager for God if we blame our environment, our education (or lack thereof), our surroundings, our parents, or our circumstances. I've heard people blame the system, their circumstances, or their absentee father. The reality is this: we do make choices. Two people can be in identical situations; one turns to God, while the other shakes his fist at Him. One has a pity party, and the other praises God in spite of it all. Mankind will never seek the Saviour unless they see themselves as a sinner. Sin deceives us into thinking we can negotiate with God. It deludes us into believing that we can get better in our flesh. It destroys us by telling us we can make it to Heaven, but dodge a direct encounter with the Christ, who demands our whole life surrendered to Him. What Jacob failed to learn early was that anytime someone fights against God, regardless of who they are, they will lose every time. Three choices will get us into God's will and keep us there: decision, dedication and a daily walk in the power of the Spirit. Daily submission to the will of God is accomplished in prayerful meditation upon the Word of God. It is only in submission that the light is manifest to us. In that meditation we learn of His strength and wisdom. After his encounter with the Lord, Jacob always walked with a limp. When a man is walking with the Lord, he will always be out of step with the world! People can have the luxury of being raised by the best parents, taught by the best teachers, mentored by the best coaches, and still struggle to respect and regard the valuable lessons in life. Because of this, often the Lord has to give some a Divine encounter. Too often people will remember a good scare rather than remembering good advice. PRAYER: Lord, as You needed to break Jacob for Your service, I come and present myself before You that You may mold me so that I might forever be altered for Your service and satisfaction as found in Romans 12:1-2. 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 Don’t Let Your Past Keep You From Serving God (Philippians 3:13-14)
We need grace in order to forget. We are often encouraged to remember and warned against forgetting, but it is just as important to forget as it is to remember. For many, having an excellent memory has lead to heartache and brought pain and regret. Joseph thanked God that He had made him forget, and Paul often spoke of forgetting as a state of progress. Let’s not misunderstand, or lose sight of, what he is writing. Obviously, no man can ever forget his past, but as the years of our walk with the Lord increase, we will have many great memories. However, memories do not always inspire. There are many who mourn due to the memory of past sin, regrets and failures. There is neither strength, nor joy, in their souls because they lack the grace to forget. Paul pressed forward for a prize. To him there was something greater to be gained by moving ahead and not lingering in the past. That is true for us in terms of offense as well. There is simply nothing to be gained by going back to past hurts and refusing to get over them. However, by forgiving and pressing forward, we gain a greater attribute of Christ-likeness. We are often inspired by those who are following, reaching and pressing toward the finish line despite life’s challenges. 1. Remember God Forgets God always remembers to forget the sin He forgives (Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:12; 10:17) God gives the assurance to the sinner who turns to Him that his sin will not be mentioned to him (Ezekiel 18:22). He is so direct in His forgiveness of our sins that He casts all our sins into the depths of the sea, ‘"Into the depth of the sea"! (Micah 7:19). Nothing could be more point-blank. If He blots out, why should we try to remember? Think of it, the devil will offer us any tackle he can in order for us to see if we could fish them up again. The Lord threw them in. Let us always be content to let them be buried there. It is miserable to see some people's nauseating distress over their past when God has already forgiven them long ago. He forgets—why should we request? If we believe in the forgiveness of sins, let us not torture ourselves with useless and needless pain. Forget the things which are behind. Leave sin where He has placed it—under the blood of the Cross. 2. Regrets are Futile In life, there are both triumphant victories and crushing defeats. When an opportunity has been missed we observe its worth. Life's lessons on learning about losses should teach us to discipline our mind, but for some people it only gets on the nerves. “If I had only listened the first time and acted more wisely, how different life would have been!” They sit down and fret over what might have been, all the while other opportunities are slipping by. Forget past chances and bend your back to the one at your feet. The fire has died in some hearts because they can never seem to forget their past mistakes. Some unpleasant trial has derailed them and they have never gotten back on track. The minds of many have become a graveyard haunted by past regrets. Joseph thanked God that He had made him forget not only his travail, but also his father's house. Of course, he never forgot his home entirely, but it ceased to hold him captive. Our lives should be so filled with meaning and purpose that its attractive desire compels us to focus on the future, not in the past. Keep in mind, that everyday the Lord offers new opportunities for us to manifest His glory and build up His kingdom. Each day is valuable, and with it presents opportunities that will never come again. Although the past cannot be recaptured, there are pages for tomorrow still blank, waiting to be turned so life’s journeys can be recorded. 3. Resist Focusing on Former Successes As strange as it may sound, successes in life can do more harm than failures to some. No matter how many victories and successes one has achieved for the Lord Jesus Christ, he is to never cease from the laboring in his service. Some have been known to go on a lengthy leave of absence from God's service after a monumental success. However, each new triumph should inspire a new desire, igniting a passion to perform another task. But sometimes spiritual paralysis sets inside the soul, leaving the servant of God comatose. Paul is stating it is great we have many victories in this life, but don't focus too long on them because know they are in the past. Press on to future achievements. Great achievements have been the undoing of many servants because they have failed to forget. If we are constantly focusing on past victories we will only find ourselves stumbling forward as we seek future triumphs. Prayer, Lord Jesus, help me to pursue toward the prize without wavering on life's highway. Thank You for forgetting my past and giving me strength I need to press on. I know that what lies ahead for me are many opportunities to build up Your Kingdom. I look to You as You guide me and provide for me with spiritual stamina for the journey ahead. May I not look back and never give up. I await the day to see Your face and hear these words, "Well Done". If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Devil Uses Doubt (Genesis 3:1-6)
Genesis 3:1-6, Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. The curtain opens in Genesis 3 with Satan, in the form of a serpent, questioning and attacking God's Word. Have you ever noticed when Satan made his first appearance in Scripture after his exile from Heaven? He came on the scene immediately after God created and designed marriage. If you’ll notice the serpent didn’t seem to bother Adam until God gave him a wife. Soon after the marriage union was established the devilish assault against the home began. Satan's first words were poisoning Eve's mind with seeds of doubt. This tactic is found all throughout the Scriptures. Notice what transpired once Adan and Eve were married:
Notice Satan's weapon that he used upon Eve again for a moment. It was the doubting and questioning of the authority and accuracy of God's Word. The Scriptures refer to Satan as the Father of Lies (John 8:44). This is one of Satan's most effective weapons. Doubt brings fear, uncertainty, and hesitancy in obeying and believing God. When we doubt or question God, we have a tendency to take matters into our own hands and then really mess things up. Satan wants couples to doubt and have lack of confidence for God’s Word. His intent for your home and marriage is still the same today. He wants to come between you and your spouse and cause division and dissention. His ultimate goal is to destroy your home and cause you to lose all God has given your family. Beware of his subtlety and guard your relationship against his devices. Satan makes promises he cannot keep. He attacks God questioning His ability to carry out judgment. Satan declared to Eve, “Ye shall not surely die...”but death did come. He promised their eyes would be opened and they would be as gods. Their eyes were opened, but eventually closed in death and they did not become gods. Wisdom is never attained by disobeying God's Word. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). In Eve's reply to the serpent, she adds to God's Word. She says she will die if she eats of the fruit or touches it. God said nothing about touching the fruit. Meddling with God's Word is a very serious matter. God does not like His word to be changed or misquoted. We are the same. We do not like our words twisted or misquoted. The goal of Satan was to ruin Adam and Eve. He accomplished this by tempting Eve to have the wrong goal of wanting to be like God. Instead of being content, Eve felt she was being cheated. Her attitude affected her desires in life. When our priorities get mixed up, our goals in life are rearranged too. To have a strong, godly marriage you must hate how the world has tried to distort marriage. You must hate divorce. You must hate the things that tear marriage apart and you must both stand on that conviction when marriage gets hard. You also must learn how "to lose". I know, we live in a “win-at-all-cost” society, but a couple who lives victoriously “will lose”. They “will lose” their pride. They “will lose” their selfishness. And they “will lose” any and all things that try to pull them away from God and each other. Marriage is teamwork. The marriage couple should team-up and defeat the problem rather than allowing it to divide them. Prayer, Father in Heaven, I’m fully aware that Satan is on the prowl seeking opportunities to destroy my marriage. His strategy is to get me and my spouse in competition with each other and with You. Help me to never lose sight of this. 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 Leadership page from our website. If you would like to read this complete article in its entirety, please open the Leadership link.
A Faithful Friend (Proverbs 27:5-6) Proverbs 27:5-6, Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. An honest friend, will display their love to their friend by correcting them and keeping them from a foolish or fatal act. The kisses of an enemy are deceitful. This warns us that not all kisses are the [Hi, Great to see you.] greetings of a friend. They may come from an enemy and be deceitful. Unfortunately, the Bible is filled with numerous examples of the deceptive kisses of an enemy. The most famous kiss of an enemy was Judas Iscariot kissing Jesus. Though he claimed to be a friend and kissed Christ, he was a traitor. Faithful are the wounds of a friend. A mark of a faithful friend is that they will be willing to wound us with loving correction. The correction may not feel good but it will be an expression of the love and faithfulness of a friend. The ‘wounds’ are the painful words that must be addressed in a true friendship in order to heal or a broken relationship. Before anyone engages in correcting their wayward friend, they should pray for wisdom. Seeking the Lord to lead them in ministering to them as they speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). 1. Be candid. This means we should be direct and honest and not deceitful. If we want to build relationships with others, we must be honest. This means telling people what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. Anyone who has a “friend” who refuses to tell them when they are doing wrong, or who plans or participates, does not have a true friend. The Bible warns that they are your enemies and their kisses are deceitful. If they really love you, they will say to you, “You know what you are doing is wrong. You know it is different from what you have been taught. You know that God cannot bless it.” If we are true friends, we will tell our friends the truth to help them, even if it might make them annoyed with us. Always compliment in public and correct in private. No marriage, friendship, or other relationship can survive unless it is built on candidness and honesty. 2. Be confidential. There are very few people who can be trusted with sensitive, personal information. We all need a friend with whom we can share our hurts, fears, and frustrations. One of the quickest ways to hurt people is to repeat a confidence. Friends are some of life’s most valuable assets. Acquaintances in life are many; true friends are few. A friend is a trusted confidante, whose love is not dependent on performance, and whose influence draws others closer to God. Everyone needs a friend who will be loving and honest to restore them in their faults and flaws. The Lord Jesus Christ saw our greatest need and He offered us His friendship. If we are to be Christ like, we should show this same friendship of Christ to others. PRAYER: Father, thank You that You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ. You did not forget me nor You did You leave me alone. Thank You for saving me and for being a faithful friend. 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 Spiritually Cold (Matthew 24:9-12)
Matthew 24:9-12, Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him. It was a cold evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace and waited. The pastor made himself comfortable but said nothing. In the grave silence, he watched the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host was captivated as he watched all this in silence. As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday." Love must be protected and cultivated if it is to be kept alive. Just because we love God today does not mean that we will do so tomorrow. Jesus told us that in strenuous situations many hearts will grow cold. Keep your heart warm toward the Lord today, or tomorrow you may find it has grown cold. True involvement consists of fellowship. Fellowship is never something done alone. One reason church is so important is because of the fellowship with other Christians. You miss out when you miss a service and neglect the assembling at church. The Lord often sends His messengers to nudge others awake. Sometimes the methods used to awaken them are drastic, but always for their good. Let us not imagine that because He shakes us, He therefore hates us. He awakens us from lethargy because He loves us, and wants to save our lives from apathy, waste, and ineffectiveness. Many offer excuses hindering their involvement with others. Here are ten: 1. I can't help anyone, I don't know what to do. 2. I'm too busy or too tired. 3. It's not worth the trouble. 4. I don't need anyone. 5. No one needs me. 6. I'm afraid I'll get burned or taken advantage of. 7. It's none of my business. 8. I might look foolish. 9. I'm too shy. 10. I don’t have time. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father, my desire is to draw nigh unto You. May my nearness to You fill my heart with Your love and increase the fervor of my love for You. Help my love for You to abound more and more and that it never grows cold. 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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