God’s Got This…God Will Turn It Around (Romans 8:28)
Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Have you ever felt like nothing in your world was going right? You may have recently experienced the absolute worst day of your life. We all have experienced troubles and know the feeling of having a "crushed spirit." When circumstances are difficult, all too often this affects our attitude toward God and can also inhibit our worship. After all, why should we worship when it seems like life is falling apart at the seams? This passage should be a great encouragement to God’s children when they must endure suffering in this life. Concerning his faithful people, God will bring good out of all difficulties, troubles, persecution and suffering. The highest good is that we will better relate to and become more like Jesus Christ, which will finally lead to sharing in His glory. Some are devastated by rejection, but others respond with fortitude and determination to succeed. G. Campbell Morgan was one of 150 young men who sought entrance to the Wesleyan ministry in 1888 at the age of 25. He passed the doctrinal examinations, but then faced the trial sermon. In a spacious auditorium that could seat more than 1,000 people sat three ministers and 75 others who came to listen. When Morgan stepped into the pulpit that day, the enormous room and the searching, critical eyes caught him off guard even though he had been preaching since he was 13. Two weeks later, Morgan's name appeared among the 105 rejected applicants for the ministry that year. Jill Morgan, his daughter-in-law, wrote in her book, A Man of the Word, "He wired to his father the one word, 'Rejected,' and sat down to write in his diary: 'Very dark everything seems. Still, He knoweth best.' Quickly came the reply: 'Rejected on earth. Accepted in Heaven...Dad.'" Remember, God can use the rejection of others for your good. In later years, Morgan spoke about his rejection and said, "God said to me, in the weeks of loneliness and darkness that followed, 'I want you to cease making plans for yourself, and let Me plan your life.'" Rejection is rarely permanent, as Morgan went on to prove. Even though Morgan had no formal training for the ministry, his devotion to studying of the Bible made him one of the leading Bible teachers in his day. What you do with the Bible determines what God will do with you. His reputation as preacher and Bible expositor grew throughout England and spread to the United States. In 1896, D. L. Moody invited him to lecture to the students at the Moody Bible Institute. This was the first of his 54 crossings of the Atlantic Ocean to preach and teach. After the death of Moody in 1899, Morgan assumed the position of director of the Northfield Bible Conference. After five successful years in this capacity, he returned to England (in 1904) and became pastor of Westminster Chapel of London. His preaching and weekly Friday night Bible classes were attended by thousands of people to hear the preaching of the Word of God. Not bad for a guy who supposedly could not preach. God used him greatly. He was faithful in preaching the Word of God until his death in 1945 at the age of 81. He was rejected by men, but approved by God. Rejection often causes us to redirect our course and we may find God has another opportunity waiting for us down the road that is even better. We may never understand all the details behind it, and it may shake us to our core because of our emotional attachment to the people or circumstances involved. Still, we can cling to the truth that God knows best. Maybe you are in the midst of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, month, or even year. Maybe you feel that in the midst of a valley, it’s too hard to continue. Knowing that God is working all things together for our good brings great comfort in the midst of difficult trials. Take some time today to thank God that He hears our cries, He promises to deliver us, and we can rest assured that He remains close to us even in our darkest moments. “What we do in the crisis always depends on whether we see the difficulties in the light of God, or God in the shadow of the difficulties.” G. Campbell Morgan. One of the greatest comforts in adversity is to realize that the various experiences of life are not by chance but are controlled by the hand of a loving Father for our good, our benefit and blessing. Divine providence works for a special people to bring a profitable conclusion to every experience. Questions to Consider: Has rejection left you feeling discouraged? Have you have been rejected by a close friend or family member or by people in your own church? Points to Ponder: God knows your pain. Trust Him with your future and follow Him faithfully to the next opportunity He sends your way. Prayer: Father in Heaven, I know the thoughts and plans You have for me are for Your glory and for my good. Whatever I may face today, I can expect that You are working for good in all of it. So I’m going to step forward in faith, trusting You in all things and seeking to cooperate fully with Your plans for me. I know I can’t imagine all the good You have planned for my life, but I also know it’s all coming in Jesus’ name, so I can say, amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
0 Comments
Hands of the Lord (Isaiah 64:8) – Part 2
Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study I recently preached. Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” 1. Sympathetic Hands (Hands 1:41-42) In the midst of all the sorrow there is in the world, I would like to suggest to you that His hands are sympathetic hands. In the Gospel of Mark, Mark 1:41-42, “And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.” Jesus put His hand out and touched him. Can you put yourself in the place of that leper for just a few seconds? Try to sense, even in a small way, how he must have felt, how long he had gone with nobody touching him, how long he had gone since anyone expressed any sympathy. But here was Jesus putting out His hand, saying, “I understand.” It is interesting to me that the compassionate hands of Christ, the sympathetic hands of Christ, are mentioned in the very last book of the Bible and as one of His last acts of all that are recorded in the Word of God. In Revelation 21:3-4, “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” Friends, our Lord Jesus is sympathetic with your problem; He is sympathetic with your need today. He understands. 2. Sufficient (Marks 8:22-24) His hands are sufficient hands. Mark 8:22-24, “And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him. And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.” Let's pause for a moment. Suppose Jesus had stopped there. That man would have gone through life with poor eyesight. He wouldn't have been blind, but he would have poor eyesight. But notice, in Mark 8:25, when the man told Jesus that, “After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.” He never does anything halfway. He never leaves a job unfinished. He never leaves a task incomplete. He has given a precious promise in Psalm 89:33-35, “Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.” Did you notice what He said? I will not permit My faithfulness to fail. His hands are sustaining hands; they will always be there. He will not stop until He has finished the job. 3. Strengthening Hands (Luke 24:50-51) Luke 24:50-51, “And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” Matthew 28:18-20, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” When we look at these closing verses of Luke, we find the Lord bidding farewell to the disciples, but the encouragement from the angels that were standing by as the Lord departed was, "…this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.." This conversation is recorded in Acts 1:11. As the Lord faded into the clouds, the disciples were not weeping, they were rejoicing because the Lord was risen, His message was verified and true, and He was coming again someday. For 2,000 years, Christians have tasted the same joy as they await the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. One day soon, the promise, "I shall return!" will be fulfilled. I Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Notice: The Lord Jesus was going away. He was going back to Heaven. He held up His hands–don't forget these hands; they will always be with you. Matthew 28:18 “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth…” These hands will provide it for you. They are strengthening hands. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com A Changed Man (Luke 19:8)
Luke 19:8, “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” When Adoniram Judson made preparation to go to Burma, God spoke to his heart about people that he had wronged before he was saved. During his years when he lived in New York City and was indulging in the sinful lifestyle of this world, he had cheated several men out of their money. Adoniram realized that God would not bless his ministry until he cleared his conscience with these men and made restitution. Judson made a trip to New York and sought out the people that he had wronged and asked for their forgiveness. He returned the money that he had wrongfully taken from them and returned home with a new peace and joy in his heart and greater boldness in his speaking. When we look at Zacchaeus, we find he truly repented and his life was drastically changed for the better. He became concerned about those who were stricken with poverty, giving half of his wealth to the poor. He didn't have to do that, but he wanted to help them. He began to use his money as a tool of blessing, focusing on others instead of himself. Zacchaeus was a rich man that did what the rich young ruler refused to do. Also, Zacchaeus wanted to clear his conscience and make matters right with other people. He was concerned about restitution for people he wronged, restoring four-fold what he had taken from others. His restitution was more than what was required of him. A pastor once shared a story when he was in a service. The preacher said there was a meeting in progress at which several women were giving their testimony. One woman kept silent. She was asked to testify but refused. She was asked why and she answered, “Some of these women who have just given their testimony, owe me money, and I and my family have been hungry because we cannot buy food." A few women had no credibility at all because their actions did not back up what they claimed. A Christian's testimony is utterly worthless unless it is backed by deeds which guarantee its sincerity. It is not a simple change of words which Jesus Christ demands, but a change of life. True confession of sin and genuine faith in Christ will result in positive character change that will be evident through godly actions. No one can become acquainted with Jesus, accept His offer of salvation, and at the same time remain defiant, dishonest, and uncharitable toward others. When a sinner is converted, there will be great changes made. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (II Corinthians 5:17). Zaccheus certainly made some tremendous changes after he met Jesus Christ. When a person is truly converted, there will be consecration in his life and lips. Zaccheus was concerned about the needy. He wanted purity in his conduct, which meant he would be honest. Christianity has produced this attitude in the world. When Zacchaeus testified this to the Lord. Jesus said, "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Restitution is a key proof in convincing others that you have trusted Christ as your Saviour. For most people, all they remember is what you were like before you were saved, especially if you were a cheat. If you go to these people and tell them about Jesus after you are saved, but you have not made offenses right, then you have no credibility. If you seek their forgiveness for wrongs in the past, if you make restitution for financial matters or damages, then you give credibility to what you tell them about what has happened to you. You also create curiosity about Jesus Christ. If you have an opportunity to make things right with God and others, then don't let the opportunity slip away. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, help me to learn from the example of Zacchaeus. May my life continue to be changed and challenged to live a life that brings glory and pleasure 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 Hands of the Lord (Isaiah 64:8) – Part 1
Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study I recently preached. Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O Lord, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” Recently someone asked me, “What is God like? How do you picture Him?” John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” It is true. God is a Spirit; but a wonderful thing I have discovered as I have studied the Word of God is that, though God is a Spirit, in order for us to understand what He is like. He speaks of Himself in human terms with human characteristics so that we might be able to understand exactly what He is like. 1) Eyes: I Peter 3:12, “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 2) Smell: Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.” 3) Foot: Isaiah 66:1, “Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?” 4) Breath: Genesis 2:7, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” 5) Mind: Hebrews 6:10, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” 6) Heart: John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” I have found that of all the physical characteristics of God mentioned in the Scripture, His hands are spoken of often. So I want us to think together today on the subject, “The Hands of Our Lord”. 1. Safe Hands (John 10:28). The first thing I would like to think about is that His hands are safe hands. His hands are safe hands as described in John 10:28, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” His hands are safe hands. We are secure in Christ. The security is in the shepherd's ability, not in the sheep's. I learned a long time ago, and I try to follow through with it consistently, that anything I commit into His hands is safe. So many problems that I have, and many situations that I don't have a solution for, I just commit them into His hands. 2. Straightening Hands (Luke 13:10-13). Another thought that comes to mind is that His hands are straightening hands. Luke 13:10-13, “And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” His hands are straightening hands. He is able to take crooked things and straighten them out. Isn't it wonderful to know that God can make crooked things straight? Think with me for a moment. I wonder how many crooked things there have been seen in your life during the past year. I am not using the word “crooked” in the sense that there is something criminal, something against the law. But things that are chaotic and confusing, and you have wondered what you can do about them. Why don't you just turn them over to the Lord and let His hands straighten out those things? I have seen Him straighten out so much. 3. Sustaining Hands (Matthew 14:25-31). Another thought that comes to mind is that His hands are sustaining hands. They are able to hold you up! Matthew 14:25-31, “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” Isaiah 41:9, “Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.” Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” If you know Christ as your Saviour, then realize that you belong to Him. You are under His care. He will watch over you. We tend to forget this, but remembering this truth will help you confront your fear. You do not have to be dismayed, frightened, or anxiously look around because you are afraid. The presence of the Lord in our lives offers that same comfort. Please visit this website tomorrow, Part 2 of this 2 part post. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Lord, Deliver Me from Distractions (Colossians 3:1-2)
Colossians 3:1-2, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” In the summer of 1996, several thoroughbred racehorses in Kentucky developed foul nasal odors and bloody noses followed by infections in their nostrils. When veterinarians examined the horses, to their shock they found small egg-shaped sponges deep in the horses' nasal passages. Where did the sponges come from? Authorities determined that someone wanting to fix races had tampered with the horses, inserting the sponges to interfere with the horses' breathing, cut down their oxygen intake, and slow them down. Ten instances of such "sponging" were reported within a nine-month period, and the FBI was called in to investigate. Like sponges in a thoroughbred's nostrils, sins and distractions weaken a Christian. They distract us and take away from what God wants us to be and do. Distractions take our eyes off those things that really matter. We have no idea what hangs in the balance of our preparedness to focus through the distractions and serve the Lord. Remember…in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Since the fall of man, people have had trouble staying focused. The world we live in today is in an age of unprecedented distraction. Since you’re already reading this on some electronic device, I don’t need to elaborate. There will always be distractions and opportunities to turn away from what we are supposed to be doing. One of the devil’s most effective tactics is not to get us to sin outright. Instead, he gets us to turn aside from what is truly important and focus on things of little importance. If we are not careful, we can find that we have succeeded to stay busy without getting anything accomplished. Jesus never lost sight of the pivotal purpose for which He came into the world. Every day of His life was spent on things that truly counted. This is the pattern that we should be following day by day. Focus leads to success. When we stay focused on what is important, we can accomplish great things for God. Penny-pinching Jack Benny was walking along when suddenly an armed robber approached and said, "Your money or your life!" There was a long pause as Benny did nothing. The robber impatiently cried, "Well?" Jack Benny replied, "Don't rush me! I'm thinking about it." What we set our minds on determines our seeking and thus the direction of our Christian lives (Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34). We must have a heavenly mindset for earthly action. Paul is saying, “Take a good look at heaven’s perspective on every issue, so you will know how to live on earth.” We need a kingdom mentality if we expect to receive heavenly benefits. Where we focus our minds and hearts today counts forever. The very essence of what we believe to be true about the world hangs on where we direct our attention. One of the important and practical issues in the Christian life is where and how we set our minds. Regardless of how hard it may seem, you really can control your thoughts. To put it in terms of Colossians 3:2, we set our minds either on “things that are above” or “things that are on earth.” Setting our minds does not mean we only ever think of God and heaven, but it does mean that as we engage in our earthly callings such as our family, at work, in the world — we don’t mentally turn our backs on Him. All of us set our minds on something and you will set it somewhere — or if you leave it alone, it will go somewhere. The word "affection" means mind; to set and focus your mind constantly upon heavenly things, not upon earthly things. The things of Christ and of heaven are to consume the believer's life and mind. Our greatest affections and priorities should center on things that will last forever. Our greatest attempts should be to store up “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20). We must value, judge and consider everything from an eternal and heavenly perspective. Our goals and pursuits should be to seek spiritual things (Colossians 3:1-4), resist sin (Colossians 3:5-11), and develop Christ’s character (Colossians 3:12-17). Questions to Consider: What is distracting you from being focused on the Lord? If there was one change you made to your daily routine or thought life that could help your eyes stay fixed on Jesus, what would it be? Points to Ponder: Don’t let good things keep you from the best things God has for you. When you are tempted to give up, remind yourself that your labour is not in vain in the LORD. Prayer: Father, I confess I’ve allowed myself to be distracted and I don’t want to be anymore. Please forgive me, give me a clear sense of Your calling on my life. Help me to stay focused and attentive on serving You. Give me the strength and self-control I need to fix my eyes on You so that I can learn what You want me to learn and be who You want me to be. You are worthy of my full attention. I want to hear Your voice. Whatever it takes, Lord, help me to pursue only what You call me to do and deliver me from distractions. 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 God's Tool Kit for Perfection (Ephesians 4:12-13)
Ephesians 4:12-13, “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Many of you have a tool bag in your house or car. It may contain a ratchet kit, screw drivers, a hammer, wrench, or chisel. The question is, "Why?" What is its purpose? Most of us would say, "I have one to fix, repair, or maintain what is broken or to install or build something that is needed or wanted." When we use tools to work on a project, we normally try to bring the project, the repairs, or the installation to completion. The tools in the hand of the craftsmen bring about the changes that are sought. The car runs better, the door opens smoother, the bicycle can be ridden, the tree house is a castle, and the kids can swing on the swing set. The tool kit comes in handy for a variety of problems and projects. God has a tool kit for your perfection. This means being spiritually mature and spiritually equipped. In Ephesians 4:12, the phrase "perfecting of the saints" refers to the believer being equipped, repaired, mended, or strengthened. In Ephesians 4:13, the phrase "perfect man" refers to one who is spiritually mature or complete. There is both unity and diversity in the body of Christ. Our diverse roles and abilities are for the purpose to enrich and bless the church. Paul shows us how the church, with all of its glorious diversity, functions in a healthy way. Imagine the Master Carpenter’s tools holding a conference. Each tool sees issues and errors in one another rather than seeing the potential in unity. One tool complains about Brother Hammer and says, “He is so disruptive to our work. He’s got to be heard. He’s too noisy”. Bro Hammer responds and says of Brother Screwdriver, “He is so confusing. You have to turn him around and around to get anything accomplished.” Brother Screwdriver responds and says of Brother Plane, “There’s no depth to his work. It’s always on the surface." Brother Plane responds and says of Brother Ruler, “He’s constantly measuring people as if he were the only one who’s right." Brother Ruler says of Brother Sandpaper, “He ought to leave too, because he’s so rough and abrasive. He’s always rubbing people the wrong way.” Brother Sandpaper says of Brother Saw, “Every time he works, he leaves a big mess on the floor. He can’t make his mind up if he wants to go forwards or backwards”. Brother Saw says of Brother Blade, “He has a very sharp and cutting personality.” Brother Blade says of Brother Level, “He always tends to blame others for being crooked and unbalanced.” Brother Blade says of Brother Clamp, “He is always so uptight and never seems to be relaxed.” Brother Clamp says of Brother Drill, “He comes along and sticks his long penetrating nose into other people's business.” In the midst of all this discussion, in walks the Carpenter of Nazareth. He has arrived to start His day’s work. Putting on His apron, He goes to the bench to make a pulpit from which to proclaim the Gospel. Every day He uses all of His available tools. After the day’s work is done, when the pulpit is finished, the tools observe and understand that they are all workers together. I believe this is a good description of spiritual gifts in the body of Christ. Christ has followers from every corner of the globe, each with God-given spiritual abilities to accomplish His work. Only as each member yields to the Holy Spirit can God use our diverse gifts to accomplish His work in the world. I hope and pray you’re ready to work today. Prayer: Lord, teach me how to love others as Christ loved others. Keep me from doing anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Help me see the importance of humility of the heart, so that I will consider others before myself. Help me to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace in my home, my church, and my community. May I diligently seek after all those things that are well-pleasing in Your sight, so that I may live in unity one with others. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com God Has A Plan For You (Jeremiah 29:11)
Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Have you ever had the day's schedule planned so perfectly only to have your best-laid plans suddenly collapse due to a last-minute interruption? I've been there many times myself, but I've learned that God often overrides even the most well-meaning plans to orchestrate His own divine plan. He intervenes through our interruptions. When we are going through trials, it is of great comfort to know that God allows nothing to come into our lives without first passing through the hands of our Heavenly Father. If we are to rise above our circumstances, then we need to look at our circumstances from God's point of view. Fervent prayer and continually studying the Scriptures will help you learn how to do this. What does this mean to you? Below are five things: 1. God made plans for you before the world began. He has plans for you now. You are not a mistake. You are purposed for greatness (John 10:10; Ephesians 2:10). Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Not only does our Lord offer eternal life, He offers a fullness of life in the meantime. The Christian life surpasses anything the world can offer. 2. God's plans for you are bigger and better than your plans for yourself (Ephesians 3:20). The cause of Christ ought to be at the top of our priority lists, and we must ever be mindful of how we can advance this end. Think of your greatest aspiration and then acknowledge the fact that God's desire for you is much bigger than anything you've ever imagined for yourself. 3. Remain faithful over what you have been given charge over. Even if it seems like no one is noticing, God is. He is paying attention to what you do and how you do it. He will remember, recognize, and reward you. 4. Never give up. Your life may seem dull, ordinary, and common, but we serve a God who can turn your life around in an instant. Keep your hopes up in the midst of dark days when you don’t understand what is going on. Remain in faith daily. Trust God every step of the way. Just keep having hope in the Lord no matter how dark it looks. 5. God can turn your life around. One swing from God can take you from fearful to a mighty man of valor (Gideon), from a barren man to a father of nations (Abraham), from a fisherman to a fisher of men (Peter), from an extremist to an evangelist (Paul), and from a shepherd boy to a king (David). Serve God faithfully and become the man/woman God has called you to be! It's far more important that we care about people than plans. You may be in a hurry as you're reading this today, but in your haste, don't neglect opportunities to let your light shine for Christ. Be available to lend an ear or a hand, and you'll be amazed at how God will use you Prayer: Father in Heaven, I know You love me, and it amazes me that You made plans for me before the foundations of the world. Thank You Father for caring for me. I know the thoughts and plans You have for me are for Your glory and for my good. Whatever I may face today, I can expect that You are working for good in all of it. So I’m going to step forward in faith, trusting You in all things and seeking to cooperate fully with Your plans for me. I know I can’t imagine all the good You have planned for my life, but I also know it’s all coming in Jesus’ name, so I can say, amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Not Famous, But Faithful (I Corinthians 4:2)
I Corinthians 4:2, Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. Over a century and a half ago there lived a humble pastor in a small village in Leicestershire, England. He had never attended college and had no degrees. He was just an ordinary faithful pastor. In his church was a young cobbler to whom he gave special attention, teaching him the Word of God. This young man was later to be renowned as William Carey, one of the greatest missionaries of modern times. This same pastor had a son, a boy whom he taught faithfully and constantly encouraged. The boy's character and work ethic were profoundly affected by his father's life. The son was Robert Hall, the mightiest public orator of his day, whose sermons influenced the decisions of statesmen and whose character was as godly as his preaching was phenomenal. It seemed that the village pastor accomplished very little. But his faithful witness and godly life had much to do with giving India its William Carey and England its Robert Hall. God honors and blesses faithfulness. God places great value on faithfulness. He is looking for men and women faithful to Him. Proverbs 20:6, Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? God is looking for faithful people like: Job - Job 23:11, My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. 3 Hebrews - Daniel 3:18, But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Peter & John - Acts 4:19-20, But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Paul - Acts 20:24, But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Timothy - I Corinthians 4:17, For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. Ministers are stewards of God. It’s been said, “The greatest ability is dependability." If you want to prove your worth, be faithful. Many believe it is more important to be famous, flamboyant, or flashy than to be faithful. Fame often brings great ruin to lives but faithfulness never does. Paul did not see himself as a man of high spiritual status, but rather as Christ's assistant, a helper willing to do the lowest task. Paul wanted to be known as a steward. The word for steward literally means "house law." A steward was an administrator, a trustee, an overseer of an estate. He was under the owner and over others within the house. Both Paul and Peter (I Peter 4:10) knew that God had assigned to them an awesome responsibility over the church and the revealed truths of the New Testament. As a minister, Paul was to serve and to do; as a steward, he was to protect and to guide. Paul wanted to be known as a faithful steward. Faithfulness involves doing all that the Master has commanded, doing it according to the master's method, and doing it in the assigned time. The scope of stewardship may vary but the quality never does. Luke 12:48, For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required; and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Faithfulness for a servant of the Lord involves at least three important topics. 1.Faithfulness to Christ. That is where faithfulness begins for God's servants. He is held accountable and shall be judged for how he ministers. The minister of God must be faithful to his call. He is the minister of Christ. Every minister is to be esteemed highly for his work's sake. He is the servant whom God has made steward over His household, over His church and His people. He has been honored by God. 2.Faithfulness to the Communication. He has been made responsible for the truths of God's Holy Word. The minister does not deal with perishable things such as money and possessions, but with the eternal things of God Himself, the eternal truths that God wants proclaimed to the world. God's servants must be faithful to the Word of God, faithful to proclaim the message of God as it is given to them. 3.Faithfulness in Character. If one is unfaithful in character, he is unlikely to be faithful in any other area of life. Ministers are required to be faithful. Faithfulness is essential to the minister. The minister is not required to be eloquent, successful, administrative, counsellor, socializer, visitor, greeter, etc. Although these are good qualities the minister’s requirement is to be faithful. God's purpose for your life is to live faithfully and obey His commands. Sometimes we become discouraged in faithful living. No matter what results you may or may not see, you can have joy knowing that God's will is being done. Take heart in knowing that as you faithfully follow God, you are fulfilling His purpose for your life. He knows what's best and will accomplish His will through you as you're faithful to Him. Questions to Consider: Are you faithful in obedience to the Lord? Are you honoring the Lord with your life? Points to Ponder: God's servants must be faithful! Jesus is worthy of our faithfulness PRAYER: Father in Heaven, give me the strength to live my life daily for You, sacrificing my wants and desires for how You would have me live my life. 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 Living a Life That Will Influence Others (I Corinthians 4:17)
I Corinthians 4:17, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.” Paul wanted to make sure that these believers in Corinth were going in the right spiritual direction. To help them to remember Paul's teachings, the apostle sent Timothy to teach them. It was a great blessing that Paul had someone who was faithful, available and could be relied upon to go to Corinth. Over a century and a half ago, there lived a humble pastor in a small village in Leicestershire, England. He had never attended college and had no degrees. He was just an ordinary, faithful pastor. In his church was a young student to whom he gave special attention, teaching him the Word of God. This young man was later to be renowned as William Carey, one of the greatest missionaries of modern times. This same pastor had a son, a boy whom he taught faithfully and constantly encouraged. The boy's character and powers were profoundly affected by his father's life. The son was Robert Hall, the mightiest public orator of his day, whose sermons influenced the decisions of statesmen and whose character was as godly as his preaching was phenomenal. It seemed that the small village pastor accomplished very little. But his faithful witness and godly life had much to do with giving India its William Carey and England its Robert Hall. God honors and blesses faithfulness. As a young boy, I remember skipping rocks with my older brother into creeks and across ponds. My brother and I would often compete in trying to see whose rocks skipped the most or made the biggest splash. I can remember my brother picking up and hurling a large rock into the water and watching the ripples reach clear across the other side of the pond. When I think back to those times, I’m amazed that such a small rock compared to a large body of water can make such a huge impact on the entire body of water. If God is the force behind the large faith-rock of your life, He can toss you higher than any other and cause you to make waves in the water of this world that will reach and influence many lives. The first time we came to Carrabelle, it was our desire to be a blessing and an encouragement to the people for the weekend. Since becoming pastor, it’s my desire to, not only see our church grow in the Word of God, but also to impact the community with the Word of God. Allow the Lord to launch you into someone’s life today and make an impact for Christ. Prayer: Lord, make a difference in me. Make a difference through me. Make me a difference maker. Each day You give me opportunities to reach others with the Gospel. I ask You to use me as one of Your instruments to restore one who has fallen in this broken world. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
May 2024
Categories |