Women of the Bible Series
Jochebed...God Fearing Mother (Hebrews 11:23) – PART 1 Hebrews 11:23, By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. We are introduced to a woman named Jochebed. She stands out as one of the greatest mothers revealed in the pages of Scripture. Her selfless love and sacrifice made possible the exodus of God's people from Egypt and literally changed the course of history. It would do us well this morning to look at the life of this great mother. As we do, we find characteristics that stand as reminders to all our mothers, teaching them what they should be as well. Jochebed’s name means “Jehovah glorified”, or “God’s glory”. Jochebed’s faith was rock solid. A God-fearing mother brings glory to God through her children. Not much is said about Jochebed, but what we do know is what she did for God. She brought glory to the Lord and it is seen in how her children turned out for the Lord. Jochebed’s children did some great things. Miriam was a prophetess (Exodus 15:20), Aaron was a high priest for the nation of Israel (Exodus 28:1), and Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt (Exodus 3:11). The events around the life of Jochebed are found in Exodus 2:1-10. Not much is spoken about her in Scripture. But what we do find is that she was a courageous, God-fearing mother. Jochebed was not afraid of the king’s commandment (Hebrews 11:23). She feared God rather than obeying the king’s commandment (Acts 5:29). Pharaoh commanded that every Hebrews son be cast into the crocodile infested Nile river. She trusted God and refused to sacrifice her child. Jochebed took baby Moses and placed him in an ark of bulrushes. She was convinced that her son would be used for an important work. She committed Moses to the Lord. Moses would become God’s servant who would lead Israel out of Egypt. It took faith to place the child in the river. This was the same instrument which was being used to destroy the other babies, (Exodus 1:22). It took faith for this mother to take her hands off the life of this child and leave him to the will of God. It takes faith for us to let our children go, but that day is coming. Some parents live in denial and try to hold on to their children far too long. But the day is coming, sooner or later, when that child must be allowed to become an adult. It takes faith to just leave them in the hands of God, but the child who has a praying mother, a life filled with the Bible and training in the way of the Lord has the advantage and will do well. Jochebed was raising her son to give him to the Lord. She gave up her son to save her nation even though she didn't realize the impact that she was making at the time. According to the Bible, God gave His son for us! When He did, God knew exactly what He was doing. In fact, when Jesus came and died for our sins at Calvary. That was the greatest expression of love the world would ever see (Romans 5:8). Jochebed gave her son for Israel. God gave His Son for the world, John 3:16, II Corinthians 5:15. He died for all! He died for you! PRAYER: Lord, I thank You for my mother. A woman who worked hard and made several sacrifices during my childhood that I may become the man I am today. Today, You have stirred my heart and have spoken to me about the importance of strengthening and building relationships. Help me be an example before the younger generation that would impact them to choose to live for You while they’re still young and to know You personally through Jesus Christ. 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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Women of the Bible Series
Hannah…Praying Mother (I Samuel 1:27-28) I Samuel 1:27-28, For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there. Billy Sunday tells of a minister who was making visits. He came to a certain home and asked for the mother but the child opening the door answered, "You cannot see mother for she prays from nine to ten." He waited forty minutes to see that mother, and when she came out of her prayer closet the light of glory was on her face, and he knew why that home was so bright; he knew why her two sons were in the ministry and her daughter a missionary. "All hell cannot tear a boy or girl away from a praying mother," comments Mr. Sunday. One of the greatest fears that troubles Satan is prayer. He trembles when a Christian prays. In this fractured world, each family faces troubles, tests, and tribulations, but the trial in your home can be turned into blessing if you turn to the Lord. The Lord desires to do the impossible through situations that seem unbearable. A woman named Hannah begged God to give her a baby boy. Hannah had prayed earnestly, continually, and specifically for a child and God blessed Hannah and answered her prayers with the birth of Samuel. After the blessing of the child, she did not forget God, Hannah dedicated her son to the Lord for His service. Hannah kept her promise to God as she said she would (I Samuel 1:11). This truly exemplifies the concept of dedication. The LORD answered the prayers of thousands of godly people in Israel. Samuel, the last of the Judges (Acts 13:20) and the first of the prophets (Acts 13:24), by his godly life, his powerful preaching, and his anointing of King Saul and David, led Israel from the distressing days of the Judges, to the dynamic days of Israel. One woman prays and a whole nation is blessed. What a good God we serve! Three valuable lessons from Hannah’s prayer life: 1.Hannah prayed earnestly (I Samuel 1:11). remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, Hannah’s heart was expressed in her words. A praying mother is a great asset to her home, her church, and her community. She prays for wisdom and discernment in teaching and training her children. Her prayer is a desire that her children would come to know the Lord, and to serve Him, and to do His will. 2.Hannah prayed continually (I Samuel 1:12). she continued praying before the LORD, Hannah prayed several times a day; every day. A godly mother prays for her family every day. Just praying on occasion is not enough. The Scriptures command everyone to pray (Luke 18:1; Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Philippians 4:6; I Thessalonians 5:17). 3.Hannah prayed specifically (I Samuel 1:27). For this child I prayed; Hannah did not just pray for any child. She specifically prayer for a man child. There is nothing wrong with praying specifically. In fact, it’s Biblical. Just as it is important when we make a list of priorities, God desires that we prioritize our prayer life. Prayers for your family need to be specific. God remembered Hannah's prayer and Hannah bore a son and named him Samuel, which means “God heard”. Hannah learned a wonderful truth: God answers prayer. Samuel was a gift from the Lord: the Lord had given Samuel because she had prayed, believing. The peace came before she got the answer. Peace doesn’t come from getting everything we want or think we need from God. Peace comes from leaving everything with God, being content with what we have and praying the Lord’s will be done. Prayer is the answer to our afflictions. When we are in deep sorrow and our hearts are broken, prayer is the answer. Children are a precious gift from the LORD (Psalm 127:3). The prayer from every parent should be for the salvation of their children and that they would serve the LORD. Hanna’s influence on Samuel started a positive ripple effect. Samuel grew up to become a great man of God. He was a prophet, a judge, and started a school for prophets. He led many people to the Lord and honored his mother in ways that she hoped for. What kind of ripple effect will you create in your encounters with others today? PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I know that nothing happens in my life that You’re not aware of. I know that You will not abandon me in this affliction. SO, I’m asking You to teach me to see Your comforting hand in this affliction. May this sweeten my love, secure my hope, and strengthen my faith. 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 Women of the Bible Series
Mary…Blessed and Highly Favored (Luke 1:26-28) Luke 1:26-28, And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the LORD is with thee: blessed art thou among women. A perfect Saviour was the only cure for an imperfect humanity. It was God’s plan from the beginning to send His only begotten Son to die on the cross for the sins of mankind (I Peter 1:19-21; Ephesians 3:9-11; Genesis 3:15). Who would be the woman God would trust to conceive, to deliver, and to raise His Son and our Saviour? What mother did He use, select, and trust? That answer is Mary. Mary stands out as one of the most, if not the most, honored woman of all time. God’s description of Mary was, “thou that art highly favoured, the LORD is with thee: blessed art thou among women” (Luke 1:28). Mary was willingly obedient to God’s will or purpose. She was one who truly loved and followed the Lord with all her heart, mind, soul, and strength from her childhood to her death. It was evident that she had a heart that was humble, teachable, submissive, obedient, and worshiping. She was willing to bear whatever reproach would come because she was willing to do God’s will. Mary is another great example of Biblical motherhood. 1.Mother’s Sacrifice (Luke 2:41) Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. Parenting has always been a practice that demanded unseen sacrifice. It costs to have children today, but it is worth it all. Today, parents are bringing children into a fractured world with challenges the previous generations did not have to face. To put it bluntly, we are living in a godless society, that has abandoned the basic principles of life. I’ve heard people say I don’t know if I want to bring children into this world today. Don’t you let this world tell you that it is too big of a job for God to give you a child and bring children into this world and raise them for Jesus Christ. There are no degrees of difficulty with God. No big thing is harder for Him than a small thing. 2.Mother’s Service (Luke 1:26-35) And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. (Luke 1:31) Mary was a woman who was willing to be used by the Lord. She was at the place where God could speak to her and talk to her and be used of the Lord for a mighty work. The Lord is seeking mothers who are willing to walk with Him and surrender their will to His. If you will wait on God, seek Him, walk with Him and be there when He visits your life, God will do something in your life. 3.Mother’s Support (John 19:25) Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother,… One of the most difficult things for a mother to endure is to see their child have to bear their cross. Bless the mothers who will stand by their child when their child is bearing their cross. The Bible teaches, other than John, all the disciples fled, but His mother was there. If you want to be a godly mother, be there for your children when everybody has forsaken them and fled. When He was mocked, spit on, beaten, marred more than any other man, and nailed to a rugged tree, she stood by Him. This is the power of a mother’s love. A godly, Biblical Christian mother will stand by their child when the entire world has turned against them. Mary discovered that God had a plan personalized just for her. When we are obedient and comply with His purpose He can use us beyond our greatest imagination. We should be willing to obey God’s will and purpose for our lives even if we do not understand why. God sees the whole story and He has already written the final chapter. We can only see the current page we are on. Jesus set the example when He prayed, “not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). Points to Ponder: What seems hard for us, even impossible, is nothing for Him. In spite of a problem seeming difficult from our perspective, there are no degrees of difficulty from God's. Our problems, whether minute or monumental, are not problems at all to God. Questions to Consider: Do you trust God enough to let Him use you? What are some struggles you faced when the Lord wanted to use you in difficult circumstances? How did you overcome these struggles? PRAYER: LORD, I want to thank You for my mother, who loved me, labored for me, and has never left me. 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 WOMEN OF THE BIBLE SERIES
Ruth’s Reward (Ruth 1:14-17) Ruth 1:14-17, And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her. 15And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law. 16And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. Northwestern University researchers have developed an adhesive by combining geckos and mussels which has resulted in a superb adhesive which lasts for over one thousand contact cycles. Here we see Ruth who was not going to take no for an answer. Her actions spoke of her loyalty and devotion. As she would faithfully stick by Naomi’s side, may this encourage us to faithfully cling to Christ. We can take comfort that Jesus will never leave us nor forsake us. When Ruth promised her mother-in-law she would go where she went, live among her people, and honor her God, she showed an example of unconditional loyalty. When she committed herself to the very end of both their lives, she revealed the great woman she truly was. Ruth's decision beautifully portrays what every believer's relationship should be with Jesus. In Ephesians 5:25, husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved his bride, the church, even to the point of death (giving His life for the church). God intends for human commitments, specifically marriage, to be unending, and there can be no commitment to another without the total giving of oneself. We need more commitments like this one in marriage today. Ruth’s Fidelity. Ruth clave unto her (Ruth 1:14). What an example of human commitment and loyalty. The word clave means "to cling to, join with" It is a very strong word that carries the idea of a permanent bond. This speaks of Ruth's unwavering loyalty. Ruth’s Friendship. for whither thou goest, I will go (Ruth 1:16). Ruth was showing herself to be a true friend. A friend loveth at all times... (Proverbs 17:17)...there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). A true friend stands by those they love. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Jesus is that kind of a friend to us. May we, as believers, be that kind of a friend to Him. Ruth’s Future. where thou lodgest, I will lodge (Ruth 1:16). She is saying, whether you live in a mansion or a shack I will lodge where you lodge. Most will follow as long as certain conditions are met. However, Ruth was willing to follow no matter what. This is the kind of commitment Christ wants from His followers. Ruth’s Family. thy people shall be my people (Ruth 1:16). For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father (Romans 8:15). We are His children. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together (Romans 8:17). As Christians, we have been born again into the family of God. Ruth’s Faith. and thy God my God (Ruth 1:16). Ruth leaves all behind for the sake of her new found faith. Paul said, ... I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord (Philippians 3:8). May we, as God's children, be as faithful. When we look back on Ruth’s life, what she lost was nothing compared to what she had gained. Ruth’s full reward came about because of Who she trusted. How often have Christian’s missed God’s full reward because they only half trusted Him. God is still looking for people of deep conviction, those who will nurture a ‘for richer or poorer’, ‘in sickness and in health’, ‘till death do us part’ kind of commitment. Can you say these words to Christ? ‘I’m committed to You through thick and thin. Where You go, I’ll go. What You do, I’ll do. Whom You love, I will love. I’m with You not only to death but through death.’ Maybe, like Ruth, you need to leave something or someone behind to follow Christ. There will be sacrifices; the journey of faith is costly. Even today, your commitment to God will be challenged and tested. But hold on to God, persevere in your faith and don’t be afraid to love Him wholeheartedly. Because, like Ruth, you know what kind of God He is! PRAYER: LORD, You gave Heaven’s best to redeem me and give me the greatest security of all. How blessed I am to have a faithful friend in Jesus. Thank You for Your committed care and help me to trust You more. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com WOMEN OF THE BIBLE SERIES
Elisabeth…A Mother Honored (Luke 1:5-7) Luke 1:5-7, There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. When we read about the life of Elisabeth and her husband, Zacharias, we find them both " well stricken in years" However, wonderful surprises were awaiting this godly couple. God would do what seemed impossible and bless Elisabeth and Zacharias and bring joy into their home through the birth of John the Baptist. Both Elisabeth and Zacharias were of the priestly tribe of Levi. Zacharias’ name means, "the Lord has remembered," and Elisabeth’s name means, "my God has remembered." Both Zacharias and Elisabeth were "righteous in the sight of God." They had a personal faith in God and sought to follow Him every day. They walked with God, following all His commandments and ordinances. Elisabeth was a fit vessel for the forerunner of Christ as she was blameless in every commandment of the LORD. Being blameless does not mean perfect or sinless; it means to be irreproachable or faultless. Elisabeth was barren. She had no children and no hope of having any children because both she and her husband were both “well stricken in years.” Most likely, at least sixty years of age. In their day, sixty was considered the beginning of agedness, and they were likely well past that. God is never late, nor is He ever too early. He is always on time, working according to His timing that is always perfect. God promised them a son and would deliver the promise through His messenger the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:11-13). God promised that at the birth of John, Zacharias and Elisabeth would experience great joy and gladness and many would join them in their rejoicing (Luke 1:14, 58). When Elisabeth visited Mary, “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost” (Luke 1:41). The Holy Spirit does not fill rebels or renegades. He fills those whose desires are only to please God. Elisabeth would, in fact, bear a son (Luke 1:57), and they were to name him John (John 1:13, 60), a name that means "The Lord has been gracious" or "to whom the Lord is gracious." Luke 1:80, And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel. Zacharias and Elisabeth raised John for a time. Their faith, their prayers, and the things God had taught them doubtless touched John. That, coupled with the touch of God on his life, helped him become strong in spirit. Luke 7:28, For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. What an honor to John and to his mother, Elisabeth, for Christ to say this! Elisabeth proved to be a great blessing and encouragement to Mary. As Christians, we should never be satisfied with being just average spiritually. We should strive to be obedient to all the commandments of God. When we live within God’s will, loving Him supremely and obeying all His commandments, He will bless us and use us to bless others in ways we could never imagine. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I praise You and exalt You as the Lord of Life. Thank You that Your timing is always right, even when I want You to hurry up. Thank You that You do not bow to my schedule. Thank You that when You say "No" to my request, You are really saying "Yes" to Your best in my life. You are working out Your will. Help me love You more so I can be a blessing to those around me. May I learn to trust You as I wait on Your best. I love 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 WOMEN OF THE BIBLE SERIES
Rahab’s Faith (Joshua 2) Joshua 2:11, And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. Joshua sent two men to the city of Jericho to spy out the land. Of all of the places they would end up staying, they lodged in the home of a harlot named Rahab. Once the king of Jericho heard of their whereabouts, he sent his men to go and find them, and the first place they went to was Rahab's home. Instead of turning them in, she hid them and protected them from being caught. In return for her loyalty, she and her family were spared when the city walls of Jericho came down. Rahab's faith stands out in four ways: 1. Rahab took a stand (Joshua 2:1-7). Her faith produced self-denial. In protecting God's messengers, she defied and denied everything her king and countrymen stood for. She was no longer a part of sin-filled Jericho. Her life and allegiance changed, and people noticed it. God can change anyone. Although Rahab had a bad reputation in the beginning, she became an example of God’s grace. 2. Rahab took God at His Word (Joshua 2:9). Rahab's first words to the spies were "I know" (Joshua 2:9). She believed that the God of Israel was the one true God and that He alone could be trusted. Rahab experienced the grace of God. Although she was a harlot living in a heathenistic city filled with idol worshippers, the grace of God as available to her. No matter what our past sins were, God can forgive us and change us (II Corinthians 5:17). 3. Rahab's faith caused her to show concern for others (Joshua 2:12-13). Rahab risked her life to save the spies. She feared God, saved the spies, and became part of the Jewish nation. She cared for the spies and helped them escape. She convinced her family to come to her house and stay there seven days as the army of Israel encircled Jericho. She did not know when the fatal blow would fall, but she persevered in her concern. 4. Rahab believed God (Hebrews 11:31). Rahab was a prostitute, a Canaanite, and an idolator, who became a believer. Rahab's faith was great and her theology was straight. She knew very little about God and His covenant with His people, but she acted strongly on what little she did know. It is interesting to note that up until this time, she, nor the inhabitants of Jericho, had actually seen any of the Israelites. But, they had heard of them. They heard of their conquests in the desert and of how the Lord had parted the Red Sea. At this point in time, the Red Sea parting had occurred some forty years earlier. The fear of the Lord caused this response in Rahab; she knew which side she needed to be on. I love the fact that God had taken care of these two men, even before they got to Jericho. The Israelites were about to take over the promise land, not because of their strength, but because of the Lord. Rahab was the great-great grandmother of King David. She was also in the ancestral line of Jesus Christ. The scarlet line that saved Rahab symbolizes the scarlet blood of Jesus Christ that ensures salvation to everyone who believes and receives it. The same is true for us today. As Christians, we are blessed to live in God's promises. (The Bible is filled with His promises for us.) Sometimes, the new land is hard to see and even harder to walk through, but if we just step out in faith, we will see how God has taken care of every step we need to take. As the Lord leads you in His purposes for your life, you will see how He has prepared even those around you. And remember God clearly encouraged Joshua to "…Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest" (Joshua 1:9). May this encourage you today to go forth in all that the Lord is leading you to do. PRAYER: Lord, thank You for Your mercy and for saving me from my sin. Help me to gain wisdom through godly fear and reverence of Your ways. Teach me to walk in Your ways and to honor You in all that I do. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com God’s Care, Concern, and Control over My Life (I John 4:18-19)
I John 4:18-19, There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. Total dedication involves total faith in God's control and care of your life. Your life is in God's hands to do as He pleases with it. A devoted person has absolute trust in God's will for his or her life. The control of God over our lives is amply illustrated in the life of Pastor Im of Korea. During the Korean War, missionaries were being evicted from Korea. Harold Voelkel was able to stay because he re-enlisted as an army chaplain. This is what he did during WW2. Because he was fluent in the Korean language, they assigned him to the Island of Kojedo, which was a prisoner of war island. Each morning at 5:30, he kept up the custom of early morning prayer meetings in the prison. Before sun up, hundreds of prisoners would stand outside in rank by the barbed wire in the bitter winter cold. Their favorite hymn was "Jesus Loves Me." Harold was asked how this worship time got started in the prison. It was started by a humble Christian man, Pastor Im, who was imprisoned because of a misunderstanding. It was his second imprisonment. He had been pastoring one of the 3000 small churches throughout North Korea, when the Communists came into the country. In order to intimidate the population, they took him away from his child and wife and imprisoned him because he preached the Gospel. For 18 months, he did not have a clue what had happened to his family. When General MacArthur crossed the 38th parallel into North Korea and took the capital city of Pyongyang, they released the prisoners. Pastor Im had one thought: to go home and find his family. He was ragged and unwashed as he headed northward to his home. On his way home, the American forces mistook him for a Communist and captured him. He did not know any English and the Americans did not know any Korean. The pastor was not given any opportunity to explain his situation to an interpreter. So they imprisoned this pastor, with thousands of other North Korean prisoners, in the prison on the Island of Kojedo. Pastor Im's heart was broken. Satan whispered to him, "Where is your God? If there is a God who answers a Christian's prayer, why are you here? Why does He allow you to be mistreated?" Pastor Im had no room for bitterness in his heart. After spending time in prayer and being strengthened by the Lord, he told Jesus, "Lord, if you have let all this heartache come to me and my family, it must be because you have something for me to do. What can I do for you here on this prison island?" He looked at the other miserable men around him, most of them did not know Christ at all. He began to have compassion for their souls. One evening, as the sun was going down, he did a bold thing. He went to six other men in the prison who were also Christians and told them, "Look, maybe the Lord brought us to this place for such an hour as this. Let's get together and sing about the love of Jesus Christ. Let's sing some Christmas carols." Even though it was forbidden to gather together, Pastor Im went out into the compound and began to sing Christmas songs like Silent Night Holy Night in the Korean language. Other men began to sing as the American guards listened with amazement. Eventually, 500 men gathered around the pastor. Pastor Im then read the Christmas story from his tattered Bible and then the guards had the men disperse. The guards left with tears in their eyes. They knew something was different in this prison camp. Chaplain Voelkel was called by the guards to find out what was going on. He spoke with Pastor Im and heard his remarkable story. Pastor Im was then given an armband that gave him permission to wander about the prison camp and preach and hold prayer meetings every morning. Chaplain Voelkel joined him in ministry and after a year, something powerful happened on this island. Groups with as many as 1200 men were meeting in each of the prison compounds. The prisoners got up early to pray and sing gospel songs. Bible classes were held in the camp and over 6000 men finished the six-month course of daily Bible study and graduated. When the camps closed and the men were freed, 600 men finished Bible school and Seminary outside Korea and returned to preach the Gospel to their people. All of this happened because of one dedicated, fearless Christian who would not quit and become discouraged in spite of tragedy and terrible circumstances during a bitter war. Instead of complaining, he resolved to get back up on his spiritual feet and do what the Lord wanted him to do. He never did find out what happened to his wife and child in North Korea. He remained faithful in serving Christ. What an example he is to all of us of being totally dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ just like the widow at the Temple. PRAYER: Heavenly 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 remove 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 I Surrender All (Galatians 2:20)
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. While in seminary school, one of the courses I took was Homiletics. The class was taught by our college’s dean. He reminded us continually, “What you do with the Bible will determine what God does with you.” Until then, I had never heard of that statement. On that day back in 1997, I decided to make the Word of God a daily priority in my life. It’s been close 25 years and I have never been sorry I made that commitment (Matthew 16:24-27). Making the Bible the foundation of your life, your choices, and the basis of your decisions will give you joy, delight, direction, clarity, stability, and warnings against that which can harm you. If you are going to be totally sold out to the Lord, then God's Word is vital for establishing a spiritual foundation in your life. How can you please and obey the Lord if you don't know what to obey or what pleases Him? How are you going to know anything about Him without His Word? It will be difficult for sure. Throughout history, the great awakenings and revivals took place where God's Word was made available to the people of a nation. Many are not dedicated to the Lord today because they have decided to base their lives on the philosophies of the world which run contrary to what the Scriptures teach. God instructs us to reject such false and foolish teachings and ideas. Abraham is numbered among a rare breed of submissive hearts in the Bible who were available to God. In addition to Abraham, these men were also available to God; Jacob, in his old age (Genesis 46:2); Moses, on the backside of the desert (Exodus 3:4); Samuel, as a little child (I Samuel 3:4); Isaiah, a future prophet and writer (Isaiah 6:8); and Ananias, an unusual servant (Acts 9:10). All responded, “Here am I,” to God. May this same spirit of availability prevail in each of us. Often, we fear that giving God full control will result in our not receiving what we desire. Be assured that when you surrender your will to God, you will receive the best God has to offer. It may not be what you desire or what you would have planned, but God's will is always better than what you could provide yourself. Founder of the Salvation, Army William Booth, said, “The greatness of a man's power is the measure of his surrender”. When D.L. Moody began in the ministry he heard a preacher say, "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully surrendered to Him." Moody that night said, "By God’s grace I’ll be that man!" It is said that Moody shook two continents for God and over a million souls came to Christ under his preaching and ministry. Moody had little education and was not a skillful speaker. But God greatly used his life. At a memorial service some years after Moody’s death, Evangelist R.A. Torrey, who had been one of his closest friends, said, "The first thing that accounts for God’s using D.L. Moody so mightily was that he was a fully surrendered man. Every ounce of that 280 pound body of his belonged to God; everything he was and everything he had, belonged wholly to God." When we surrender our purpose and will to God and allow Him to use us as He sees fit, wonderful things happen. The world is shaken, not by the wise, the mighty, the intelligent, or the skilled, but by those who have yielded to God. Instead of surrendering, they cling tightly to their own desires and interests. How much better it is both for us and for a world in need when we surrender and let God choose our path! Points to Ponder: A surrendered life can shake the world. God’s will is always what's best for you, whether you see it or not. Take time right now to place your desires in God's hands. Trust Him to do what's best and faithfully live your life knowing God guides your steps. God is still at work today. He has something great. He desires to do it right where you live. But the only life you have to offer to God is the life God has given to you. So, offer yourself to God in your present circumstances. God still works through yielded servants. Questions to Consider: What role does the Bible play in your life? What do you use as your basis or standard of determining what is right or wrong? Are you willing to be that fully surrendered person for God? Have you surrendered your will to God today? Are you offering yourself to God now? If not, why? Will you be the man or woman that is willing to be used of God? Will you turn your abilities over to God and let Him use them however He sees fit? PRAYER: LORD, my desire is to do Your will and to do it willingly and without question. I pray that by the leading and guidance of the Holy Spirit, I may be willing to present my entire life to You as a sweet-smelling savour. 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 A Living Sacrifice…A Loving Servant (Romans 12:1)
Romans 12:1, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. We are to be living sacrifices, not dead ones. If you are going to be totally devoted to the Lord, then you will need to surrender yourself to God and present your life as a living sacrifice to Him. God not only wants us to offer our body as a living sacrifice, He wants us to surrender our hearts or wills to Him. II Corinthians 8:5, And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. The Macedonian brethren exceeded Paul’s hope. They gave first of their very selves to the Lord and His work. When our heart is right, the LORD will have all of us. This is the will of God for us. His will is for us to first give ourselves to Him and then to His work. Paul spoke of his struggle of this battle and the hope in Jesus Christ. Galatians 5:16-17, This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Our heart is the battlefield of wills…our will vs. God's will. Neither attitude wants to surrender or be defeated. The Spirit of God summons us to follow His gentle leading. Our fleshly nature makes every effort to cause us to sin. The battle is intense everyday. Proverbs 23:26, My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. Solomon pleads for his son to give him his heart. Our heavenly Father asks the same of us. The invitation here is not to salvation, but to obedience and dedication. When we give our heart to Christ in day-to-day Christian living, we will avoid the pitfalls of sinful choices. A true disciple of Christ will pattern his life after the image of Christ. In 490 B.C. as Xerxes was advancing into Greece, he came to Thermopylae, a small pass in central Greece. Herodotus tells us that by the time he got there, he had six million troops on land and sea. Gathered there to stop the advance of the powerful Persian monarch was a mere handful of Greeks headed up by 300 Spartans, led by the Spartan king Leonidas. When Persian troops came to check the pass, they saw 300 warriors brushing their long hair and doing calisthenics and other such things. Back they went to their master to report that some fools with weapons were playing games in the ravine. Demaratus, a Greek physician and counselor to the Persian court, assured the king they weren't playing games, they were performing a death ritual. These men had come to die! Many an unmarried man had volunteered, but Leonidas insisted on taking with him men who had living sons. They never meant to come back! Love of Sparta motivated these men and it was the love for sinful mankind that moved the Lord Jesus Christ to come to this earth and die for our sins. The world may consider this foolish. They may consider the Gospel to be foolish. No matter what an ungodly world thinks, live for Christ. Missionary Jim Elliot, who died for the cause of Christ said, "He is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep, to gain, what he cannot lose." He and the other four missionaries were willing to give their all for the Lord Jesus because they were sold out to the Lord. They considered themselves already dead before they went to the Auca Indians with the Gospel. They had presented themselves as living sacrifices to Christ. If God doesn't have our hearts, He doesn't have us. When our will is broken and yielded to Him, He can guide us on the path that He has prepared for us. God wants us to willingly give our hearts to Him. Deuteronomy 6:5, And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. When we love God with all our heart, mind, souls, and strength, our focus is on Him. We’re not consumed with ourselves. We’re consumed with our great God. May He increase in each of our lives as we love Him more and ourselves less! PRAYER: LORD, You have been calling me to come closer to You. I present myself a living sacrifice for You to use however You choose. I want to live for You and serve You for the rest of my life. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others:
Is Your Heart Fixed? (Psalm 57:7)
Psalm 57:7, My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. The heart of the psalmist is full of conviction. It is steadfast, firm, and strong. We will not praise God well if we are uncertain, doubtful, or weak. Our faith must have some firmness in it if we are to praise God. Allen Francis Gardiner grew up in a Christian home, took to the sea, and achieved a successful British naval career with little thought for God. In 1822, however, he fell ill and re-evaluated his wasted life. He scribbled in his journal, "After years of ingratitude, unbelief, blasphemy and rebellion, have I at last been melted? Alas, how slow, how reluctant I have been to admit the heavenly guest who stood knocking without!" Traveling around the world had given Captain Gardiner a glimpse of the need for missionaries, and he gave himself for the task. Surrendering to the Lord and leaving England for South America, he hoped to minister among the Araucanian (or Mapuche) Indians of Southern Chile. Government interference and intertribal fighting forced him back to England. Three years later he was at it again, visiting the Falklands and investigating the possibility of taking the gospel to the islands of Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Sensing opportunity at hand, Gardiner returned to England and on July 4, 1844, established a small organization called the Patagonian Missionary Society. He wrote, "I have made up my mind to go back to South America and leave no stone unturned, no effort untried, to establish a mission among the aboriginal tribes. While God gives me strength, failure will not daunt me." Allen kept trying to reach this region. He visited South America a third time, but his efforts were again hindered by intertribal fighting and governmental interference, the land being strongly Catholic, intolerant to Protestant missions. So he returned to England, recruited six missionaries, and set sail for Tierra del Fuego, but all seven men died of disease, starvation, and exposure on Picton Island. Gardiner, the last one to die, dated his final journal entry September 5, 1851, "Good and marvelous are the loving kindnesses of my gracious God unto me. He has preserved me hitherto and for four days, although without bodily food, without any feelings of hunger or thirst." Captain Allen Gardiner died without seeing a single soul saved among those for whom he was most burdened. Not one soul was saved, even though he kept trying and did not quit! Did he waste his life when he got right with God and went to the mission field? Did he waste his life away, dying on Picton Island in an effort to reach the lost for Christ? Was this man a flop or failure, even though he did the Lord's will? The answer is "No." Allen may have not seen one convert while he was alive, but he lit a fire which has never gone out. His South American Missionary Society (as it came to be called) has been sending missionaries and saving thousands of souls for over 175 years. Understand that Satan will endeavor to suppress your devotion. He will use discouragement, despondency, disillusionment, depression, defeat, dismay, disappointment, and the disdain of others to quench the flames of a burning heart for God. Jeremiah suffered from such discouragement and depression. Jeremiah 20:8-10, For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. For I heard the defaming of many, fear on every side. Report, say they, and we will report it. All my familiars watched for my halting, saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him. Jeremiah overcame his discouragement through the power of God's Word working in his life. Jeremiah 23:29, Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? The LORD is seeking a heart that is fixed and committed to Him. There are so many lures and distractions in this world that Satan will use to get you sidetracked. It is essential that you make up your mind and stick with that decision. The psalmist made that decision, as well as the Apostle Paul. I Corinthians 15:58, Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. 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. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, keep my heart fixed and steadfast with Your love. Help me never to grow cold or calloused towards You, Your Word, or others. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
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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