This is PART 2 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”.
7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross – PART 2 Christ’s 2ND Saying (Luke 23:42-43) … Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. Luke 23:42-43, And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. In Luke 23:39, two thieves were being crucified with Christ. One thief looked over to Him and said, "If thou be the Christ, save thyself and us." This man asked the Lord to save him, but he wanted to be saved physically. He wanted no part with Christ and salvation. There is no evidence to him being saved from sin. There are still many people today who are trying to get to heaven without the cross and the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It did not work then for this man, and it will not work for those who try it today. In Luke 23:40, the thief on the other side of Christ rebukes the thief who spoke in Luke 23:39. One malefactor railed on Him, becoming more hardened in guilt, while the other was repentant. In his rebuke the second thief acknowledged a fear of God. He also acknowledged that Jesus is God, and that he himself was a guilty sinner. He acknowledged that Jesus Christ was sinless by saying, "This man hath done nothing amiss." In Luke 23:42 the second thief turns to Christ and does two things. First, he confesses Jesus is LORD. Then he said unto Jesus, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." He knew death was not the end. The malefactor was saved on the cross just before he died. He was never baptized, so baptism does not save. Salvation begins immediately, it does not take weeks before it takes effect. The repentant thief believed Jesus was the Messiah He claimed to be and wanted to enter His Kingdom. In faith, the helpless thief asked to be remembered by the Saviour; in hope, he anticipated Christ’s future kingdom. His plea was not only answered personally, “Jesus said unto him”, but it was answered immediately, “To day”. It was salvation spontaneously and instantaneously. While the Lord does as He pleases and sometimes waits to answer, it is possible that He will answer our prayers much more quickly than we expect. This is Scriptural proof that some may come to Christ for salvation on their deathbed. This confirms that believers go immediately into God’s presence at death. His last minute salvation does not encourage procrastination in the matter of salvation. The Apostle Paul spoke interchangeably of Heaven and Paradise (II Corinthians 12:2, 4). While Jesus was on the cross, Paradise was on His mind. In conjunction with this, a poor sinner was on His mind, a sinner He would take to Paradise. “Paradise” was a reference to the heavenly home of the redeemed. Very soon, Jesus was going back to His “Father’s house” (John 14:2), and the thief was given assurance that he would be there with Jesus. The malefactor had Christ's word (the Word of God) to give him all the confidence he needed for his salvation. We learn 3 things about salvation here:
We see 3 men here:
There are all classes of people characterized at the cross.
PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I’m thankful that when Your Son, Jesus Christ was on the cross, that I was on His mind. I have family, friends, and loved ones who are not yet saved. Thank You for compelling me to go tell them of the salvation they can have through Your Son Jesus. In Jesus name, Amen. Thank you for reading PART 2 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”. Please visit this website tomorrow for Part 3. 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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This is PART 1 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”.
7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross – PART 1 Christ’s 1st Saying (Luke 23:34) ...Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34, Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. He asked God the Father to forgive them for they did not know what they were doing. This was the first statement He said on the cross. His blood was shed for us that we might be clothed in the bright raiment of His righteousness. In all of His suffering, Christ demonstrated great compassion not only for those who crucified Him, but for all mankind. As He forgave His tormentors, the Lord forgives all who come to Him in repentance seeking His forgiveness. When Jesus was crucified, He fulfilled a number of prophetic Scriptures (Psalm 22:6, 16, 18; 34:20; 69:20-21; Isaiah 53:12; Zechariah 12:10). The idea that this terrible thing was done in ignorance runs through the New Testament. Acts 3:17, And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. Acts 13:27, For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. According to Matthew’s account, Jesus had already suffered various forms of abuse. He had been “scourged” (Matthew 27:26); He had “a crown of thorns” placed upon His head and was “mocked” (Matthew 27:29); the wicked ones had “spit upon Him . . . and smote Him on the head” (Matthew 27:30), and nailed Him to the cross. Jesus had been on the cross for a period of time and had said nothing. Everyone was wondering what He would say. Suddenly from the lips of Jesus there came the first word since He had been on the cross. The suspense of only a half-minute pause would have seemed like an eternity. What would His next words be? Would He pronounce a curse upon them? His first words would bring a hush over the crowd. In the darkest hours of His life, Jesus called upon Him as a trustworthy “Father.” The next words that Jesus spoke are perhaps the sweetest words to ever fall from the lips of the Saviour. He says, "Father, forgive them". This fulfilled the prophecy “and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12). Here Jesus practiced what He had preached earlier in His sermon on the mount (Matthew 5:44). Matthew 5:44, But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; We cannot comprehend what a sword this would pierce into the unbelieving hearts of those Jews. Try to imagine what must have been going through the mind of those that had just passed by the cross and ridiculed Him for making Himself the Son of God. In essence, the first words that came from His mouth were, “I love you!” His prayer to the Father for the forgiveness of His enemies was an expression of love for sinners. The malice of hatred was never as toxic as in this hour. Yet the strength of love was never as powerful as when Christ prayed for His enemies. While the wicked succeeded in manifesting their wicked hearts, the Lover of sinners succeeded in revealing His loving heart. And by asking the Father to forgive them, He demonstrated to us that where there is a heart of compassion, there is a heart of forgiveness. Then the next phrase "For they know not what they do" was like adding insult to injury. The Jews were a very proud people and to tell them they did not know what they were doing did not help their feelings. This must have been a stunned crowd as they tried to analyze what the Lord Jesus had just said. The Saviour of men was the center of attention. But due to spiritual corruption and depravity, the people were blinded to His Person. Paul stated this, “for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” I Corinthians 2:8. The Jews did not fully understand the greatness of their sin of crucifying their God and Creator. Instead of showing Him their affection and devotion, they revealed their accusations and detestation. Because God alone can forgive sin and open blinded eyes, we must also pray for those who continue in spiritual ignorance. Even as He was being tortured to death, Jesus remembered the purpose for which He came, to open the door of divine forgiveness for all who would receive Him. He prayed that the Father would forgive even His executioners because they did not know what they were doing. As they gambled for His clothes, He pleaded for mercy for them, fulfilling prophecy from (Psalm 22:18). As sinners mocked Him, He interceded for them so that they might repent and be saved. He prayed for God to forgive those who were crucifying Him. The very purpose for His coming was to make provision for forgiveness of sins. God will hold no sin against any man, if that man will personally trust His Son. If God forgives the men who killed His only Son, God will forgive any man for any sin—if that man will just ask. PRAYER: Father in heaven, thank You for loving me and sending Jesus, to die on the cross for me. Thank You that I can be forgiven of all my sins. Help me to share this Good News with others. In Your name. Amen. Thank you for reading PART 1 of the 7 PART Series titled “7 Sayings of Christ on the Cross”. Please visit this website tomorrow for Part 2. If this post in any way, has blessed you, 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. As believers we are to be devoted to God and dedicated to live as He commands. This life is lived for God in holiness, purity, cleanliness, righteousness, and morality. Everything about us and all we have is to be dedicated to the worship and service of God. Anything less than total devotion is short of God's glory. 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! A Living Sacrifice. A living sacrifice means that a person dedicates his body to live for God and to keep on living for God. A living sacrifice does not mean just an occasional dedication but a constant, continuous sacrifice, of one's body. Sacrificing does not mean giving one’s body to God one day and then taking it back tomorrow. A Loving Servant. As loving servants, our desire should be to bring the Lord pleasure. We should be committed to serving and ministering to others. We should seek to cause Him to joy and to rejoice in our bodies. Our bodies should be so dedicated to Him that God's heart is just flooded with joy and rejoicing. 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: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Blessed Believers of Berea (Acts 17:11-12)
Acts 17:11-12, These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. The Berean people were honest, God-fearing people who were concerned about God and His Word. The Scriptures give a great compliment to the believers at Berea concerning their attitude toward the Word of God. The Bereans did not reject the Word. They honored it by their reception of it. Unlike the Thessalonians, the Bereans examined, verified, and investigated what had been preached before they accepted and received it. The Bereans were interested in the Word of God. Daily they studied the Scriptures. We need to examine every message by the Word of God. This will keep us from being deceived by error. Below are Three Important Points that Set the Bereans Apart from those in Thessalonica: 1. Loved the Scriptures. They were eager for the truth. They didn't want their ears tickled with philosophies, “they received the word with all readiness of mind,”. In II Timothy, Paul is instructing Timothy to make sure he preaches the Word. He warns Timothy (II Timothy 4:3) that there will be a time when some won't want to hear the truth, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;” In other words, they will want people who will tell them what feels good instead of what is true. Be on guard from seeking counsel from those who will tell you what you want to hear rather than the truth. 2. Looked-Into the Scriptures. They checked out everything for themselves in the Bible. According to Acts 17:11, what did the Bereans do to make sure Paul's message was true? They “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so”. They met daily to search the Scriptures. The Bereans were of more noble character; they were willing to hear the disciples out and evaluate their message accurately. These people were open, tolerant, and generous. They took Paul's scriptural exposition seriously. They did their own examination of the Scriptures to see if they really did point to the death and Resurrection of the Messiah as Paul claimed. Everything Paul said, they checked out. They kept going back to the Word to be sure. We too must "examine the Scriptures," not just grab a verse and run with it. When we know God's Word, we are equipped to recognize false doctrine when it comes. We do that by learning the Word of God. We need to be sure that the doctrines we are applying to our lives line up with God's Word. The Bible tells us not to believe everything we hear but to "prove all things." (I Thessalonians 5:21). Too many Christians only know what their pastor tells them of the Bible. They never check it out for themselves. 3. Lived the Scriptures. They were willing to act on what they learned. "Many of them therefore believed." (Acts 17:12). James 1:22, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. James calls for obedience to the Word. It is not enough to simply believe the Word, but we must also live the Word. A doer of the word is someone who puts to practice what he hears. God wants us to put His Word into action in our lives. It is not enough to know what truth is. We must act on that truth or it will not benefit us. It deceives us into thinking we are spiritual because of how much we know instead of how we live. David shares an important truth. Psalm 40:8, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. In other words, not only does Scripture show us what God wants us to do, but being in the Word also creates in us a desire to obey what He says. One never out grows the need to grow in the knowledge of God’s Word. It is vital that we realize that in order to grow in the knowledge of the Word of God that we daily read and heed the Bible. The Bereans were a model for all who listen to Bible preachers and teachers. We should not automatically accept anyone’s interpretation or teaching without first carefully studying and examining God’s Word for ourselves to see how people’s ideas and teachings measure up to the truth. The word “examine” means “to sift up and down, make careful and exact research.” Bible preaching should make Bible students out of the hearers. How a person receives the Word of God will determine the effect that the Word has on him. God will not hide the truth from the one who honestly seeks it. All believers should seek to be like the Bereans, embracing God’s Word with expectation and consistently digging in it for God’s truth in order to be transformed by it through obedience. The Lord expects of us "with all readiness of mind" a willing desire, an eagerness, a hunger, a thirst to know the truth. Like the Bereans, we should study and search the Scriptures for the truth. The Lord reveals the truth to the human heart by His Spirit. When a Christian discovers the truth they will commit their lives to it. God rewards a diligent search for the truth. The truth of God and His world has no end; it is unfathomable. Discovering the truth is a daily responsibility. PRAYER: Lord, thank You that my faith grows from hearing Your Word, and help me to live it. You’ve done so much in me already, but there’s so much more You could do and want to do in me. 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 In Everything Give Thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18)
Corrie ten Boom, in the Hiding Place, relates an incident that taught her always to be thankful. She and her sister, Betsy, had just been transferred to the worst German prison camp they had seen yet, Ravensbruck. On entering the barracks, they found them extremely overcrowded and flea- infested. That morning, their Scripture reading in I Thessalonians had reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. Betsy told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. Corrie at first flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy persisted, and Corrie finally succumbed to her pleadings. During the months spent at that camp, they were surprised to find how openly they could hold Bible study and prayer meetings without guard interference. It was not until several months later that they learned the reason the guards would not enter the barracks was because of the fleas. It is God’s will for us to give thanks in everything. Thanks is appreciation or gratitude voiced from our lips and hearts. It is not easy to be thankful for what we do not like, but this is the will of God. Thanks in this context means to be grateful and to express gratitude. This is a difficult command but a divine command. Scripture says to give thanks “in” everything; “not for” everything. It includes good things and bad things, joys and sorrows, gains and losses, hurts and health, good news and bad news. In everything give thanks! At all times, in all circumstances, give thanks to God. We don’t have to be thankful for our trials. But we can be thankful in them since we know the Lord is going to use it for our good in the future. Saying “thank you“ should be an everyday occurrence. A grateful heart is shown through grateful lips. A person who is truly thankful cannot help but to express it. Expressing gratitude for all that God has done for us through Christ should be one of the continuous character traits of all Christians (Ephesians 5:20). This kind of gracious attitude will cause the believer to stand out in his or her setting and be a good example for Christ. In our praise to God we are to rejoice always and we are to give thanks in everything. God commands His people to give thanks to Him! We should give God praise, honor, and glory because of what He has given to us. An evergreen is always green despite the changes in weather around it. It is green in the heat of summer as well as the cold of winter. So also our lives are to be characterized by an enduring thankfulness that is unaffected by the changes around us. When the heat of a pressured week or the deadly cold of pain strikes us, we should stand ‘ever green,' always thankful, regardless of that which surrounds us. For Christians there is no situation in which we cannot give thanks. Even in affliction we are more than conquerors as the Spirit of glory and of God rests on us. A life of prayer and devotion leads to a thankful heart. One preacher well said, “We can worship the Lord without words, but we cannot praise Him without words. ” He demands our praise and He deserves our praise. Thirteen years before his conversion, John Wesley had a conversation one night with a porter of his college that impressed Wesley that there was more to Christianity than he had found. The porter had only one coat. He had eaten no food that day and yet his heart was full of gratitude to God. Wesley said to him, “You thank God when you have nothing to wear, nothing to eat, and no bed to lie upon? What else do you thank him for?” “I thank Him,” answered the porter, “that He has given me my life and being, and a heart to love Him, and a desire to serve Him.” Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father, Your Word says to always give thanks and to give thanks in everything. Without Your help, that is impossible. Forgive me for all the times that I worry about my situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Jesus' Greatest Craving (John 4:31-34)
John 4:31-34, In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. We all have cravings. For many it’s java (coffee), for some it is a job done successfully, for others it’s Jesus. We were all created with cravings. These cravings we were given are a desire to worship the LORD. When a person fails to satisfy the craving for the LORD they become dissatisfied and eventually miserable until that void is filled. One can attempt to gratify these passions with earthly possessions, however, there will never be satisfaction until Jesus has the preeminence. For Jesus, He sought the Father every day for direction and purpose. Jesus enjoyed meals. Throughout the Gospels, He made many significant statements and worked many miracles in the context of a shared table. Whether it was the feeding of the five thousand or the Last Supper, we can see Jesus liked sitting down to a satisfying meal of food and fellowship. However, eating wasn’t the central motivating factor in His life. Sometimes He went without food for extended periods like His fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4). In the passage today, Jesus chose not to eat while the disciples took time for a meal in town. They left Him by the watering hole and returned later. Meanwhile, Jesus had an extended, life-transforming conversation with the woman at the well. Apparently, the disciples brought back something for Him and were encouraging Jesus to eat. “But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” His answer caught them by surprise. “Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?” They could not conceive He had not gratified His hunger for food. They must have thought, “when we’re hungry we eat!” How can He not be hungry? Knowing their thoughts, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” His priorities put obeying His Father far above satisfying mere physical hunger. Jesus hungered most for His Father’s pleasure. Here, as elsewhere, His view of His role was, “…nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). He had a task to finish for God and skipping a few meals wasn’t going to be a problem. In life, some things are more important than food. By far, the most satisfying times in life are when we sense we have done as the Lord wanted us to do and served as He wanted us to serve. Those moments remind us that any attempt to satisfy self apart from doing the will of God is inevitably not only a frustrating and empty pursuit, but also creates a very discouraging result. God is not interested in being our casual interest or an occasional appetite. If we know Him at all, He provokes a craving in us for Himself that should be apparent in our lives. So where does desire for God’s will and work fit into your list of priorities? It’s easy to let our earthly appetites distract us from what really satisfies. Hunger for God is the best kind of hunger, and doing God’s will brings the truest satisfaction. Sometimes we forget that. We fixate on satisfying ourselves and not on the will of God. The most lasting satisfaction in life comes from knowing we have done as the Lord wanted us to do. Any attempt to substitute anything other than God’s will only leaves us feeling empty, frustrated, or discouraged—and hungry again soon. Questions to Consider: What is your first craving in the morning? What do you depend on to get you through the day? What are some ways in which you communicate and/or demonstrate your craving for the LORD? Points to Ponder: Jesus’ greatest craving was to please the Father. Doing God’s will satisfies your greatest craving. Prayer, Heavenly Father, teach me each day to rightly value Your will above anything else, particularly my own. Remind me that doing my will can’t satisfy me or please You. Lord, I want to trust You by honoring Your desire throughout 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 My Valley (Psalm 23:4)
Psalm 23:4, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. In Psalm 23:4, we find some of the most familiar and courageous words ever written. To get to the rich pastures of the mountains the sheep had to go through the valleys. In our spiritual journey from earth to Heaven, we believers go through valleys. Some valleys are very deep and dark. Others may not be as deep and dark, but they are more treacherous. And there are valleys that seem to be unbelievably long and time consuming. Yet, overall, they connect us to the next vantage point; the next mountain top in the journey. The phrase "shadow of death" describes a deep ravine where a shepherd would lead his sheep in order to take them to better pasture. During the walk, there would come a time when the cliff walls became so narrow and steep the very sunlight was blocked out. The valley of the shadow of death is different for different people, but it represents the hardest times of life; the darkest nights we experience, bitter experiences, the deepest, loneliest places we pass through. Whatever creates hopelessness in you can be called a shadow in the valley. 1. Believers are not absolved (exempt) from the valley! “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...” Valleys are a part of our lives. We must accept it; we must acknowledge it. All who follow the Lord Jesus will eventually walk through deep valleys. It’s not "if" you walk through the valley, it’s "when" you walk through the valley. There are no exemptions; there are no excuses. The same Shepherd Who leads His sheep into “green pastures,” beside “still waters,” and in “paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” also leads them into ravines and low places. They are the difficult times of our lives which may include sickness, financial loss, betrayal, aging, bereavement, disappointment and death. It is in our valleys that we often spiritually mature and get close to the Lord. 2. Believers are not alone nor abandoned in the valley! “...I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me...” We are not alone in our valleys. The Lord is with us the whole time. While we realize there are valleys in which we will travel, we must also realize that we will not travel there by ourselves. I have learned through the years that God often speaks the most clearly in the valley. (Or maybe, I’m most likely to hear Him speak here.) You may think you couldn’t go through a valley that way—and you would be right. You couldn’t do it, alone. But God will be there with you. He will be a very present help to you. God will guide you through that circumstance. You don’t have to fear, wonder, or worry about your situation because God will be faithful to you. The Lord is with us when we are weak, weeping and weary. Pray, Father God, You are the Good Shepherd. And You are my shepherd. Thank You that even in the darkest times, You are who You say You are. Thank You that You don’t leave me indefinitely in the valley, but You bring me through it. And thank You most of all for Your presence. You never leave me alone. You are always with me—no matter what, no matter when, no matter for how long. 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 Praise You in the Storm (Psalm 145:2; Hebrews 13:15)
Psalm 145:2, Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. David committed himself to praise God. He vowed to not let a day pass by in which he would not pause to praise His Redeemer and Saviour. That vow remains as a lesson for the people of God to this day. One cannot go wrong praising God. This is a commitment to praise God for eternity. What is worth noting is that eternity will not be long enough to adequately praise God. God is the One Who is to be praised. Don’t be ashamed to praise the Lord to others. Don’t be embarrassed to tell unbelievers what God has done for you. Our society seems to think this is a bad thing to do and that it would be injurious to some people if we praise God. But, in truth, it will be very injurious to those who do not want to praise Him. Praising God for all that He has done will draw you closer to Him. You will sense His presence in your life. When the Christian praises God, he can take circumstances that discourage and defeat him and turn them into victory. For example, on the eve of Hurricane Michael, Pastor John Blount of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Panama City stayed in the church and helped shelter 25 people who stayed in two bathrooms and a small closet. The next morning, he began to access the damage to the building that was built in 1955. He walked in the auditorium and viewed the wreckage. He noticed the church Bible was still intact with minimal water damage to a few of the pages. He saw the blue sky and said, “God is God”. On Sunday morning the sun was shining down on the members. They lost their building, but not their faith. We too, can pick ourselves out of the wreckage of life by trusting in the Lord and rising above our circumstances. How can we truly praise God in the midst of severe trials? Our joy and praise enable us to endure. Hebrews 13:15, By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. A Voluntary Praise: We must make the choice to come into the presence of God and praise Him (Psalm 100:4). We only have ourselves to blame if we fail to praise Him. A Virtuous Praise: Those that are pure and heart will have a good relationship with God and praise Him (Matthew 5:8). Rather than having a sour spirit filled with protests, have a sweet spirit filled with praise to the LORD. A Victorious Praise: As we bear fruit for the LORD others will see our praise to His goodness (Psalm 145:2). Every day George Muller practiced this prescription of praise. He acknowledged that “the business of every day is first of all to seek to be truly at rest and happy in God”. When a heart is in obedience and submission to the Lord and His Word, praise will abundantly flow naturally. We should offer up to the LORD songs and praise during worship in the church. However, may we also show forth our praise to Him outside the church in public. May we show our devotion to God and live in a way that truly brings honor and praise to Him in all we say and do. Our very lives should be “as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable and well pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1; Philippians 4:18). Praising God for His blessings each day is a great way to start the day and express your gratefulness. You get your focus on the positives in your life instead of the negatives when you do this. You see that which is good instead of dwelling on that which is bad. Learning to rejoice and praise the Lord in difficult circumstances is one of the keys to overcoming frustration and worry because it directs your focus from your losses to the Lord. It creates an attitude of joy in your heart. One day we all will stand before the LORD. Above all things, I desire to hear, ‘’Well done, thou good and faithful servant:” (Matthew 25:21). Praise for the Lord has a strengthening effect upon us and others around us. Psalm 95:2, Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. Praising the Lord will help us to be firm in our faith and trust in Him. In 1853, a missionary society discussed the closure of a station in Ongole, India, because only ten people had been won to Christ in fifteen years. These Christians made up a single church which someone called the "Lone Star" of India. Samuel Smith, author of the U.S. national anthem, "My Country Tis of Thee," was a member of this mission board. As he contemplated this matter, he was moved to write the following bit of verse. Shine on, Lone Star, in grief and tears, and sad reverses oft baptized; Shine on amid thy founder's fears, Lone Stars in Heaven are not despised. The next day he read this poem to his colleagues and they unanimously voted to continue the work. Because of this decision, God moved in mighty power. Thirty years later the Ongole church had grown to 15,000 members! May God help us to offer sacrifices with both our lips and our lives. Prayer: Father in heaven, help me trust in You and praise You, no matter how dark the storm rages. I desire to have hope in You in the midst of the storm. 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 Unstoppable Gospel (Acts 12:24)
Acts 12:24, But the word of God grew and multiplied. In the book of Acts, we read that the Word of God continued to grow and be multiplied, and then it mentions the return of Saul, Barnabas, and John Mark to Antioch. This sets the stage for the expansion of the Gospel among the Gentiles that comprises the rest of Acts. Herod and the Jews opposed God’s Saviour and came under His judgment. The apostles and early church suffered much, and many died violent deaths, but the Word of God continued to grow and be multiplied. God rewarded them abundantly and eternally in heaven. According to II Timothy 2:8-9, the Word of God is not bound. Regardless of the opposition, the Gospel is being spread across the world. We can always quit and give up when things get hard, or we can choose to persevere and accomplish what needs to be done. Successful disciples follow the example that Jesus set and carry on even in the face of criticism, opposition, and great difficulty. Jesus endured the hardships He faced, and if we trust Him, He will empower us to do the same. Jesus has overcome everything. Bring to mind all He has done for you. He saved you from sin and its eternal consequences, lived the greatest life worth imitating, and He guides and guards you. Remember Jesus is not limited or bound. He and His Word will accomplish all God intends for them to accomplish in you and through you. The Audaciousness of the Church (Acts 12:24-25) In spite of the killing of Stephen and James, plus a host of other persecutions of the church, the church did not die. The church continued to display its courage and compassion as it kept on glowing, growing, and going, much to the dismay of evil. The words "grew and multiplied" mean that the church kept on growing and multiplying. The progress of God's Word could not be stopped. Men and governments might try to stop it, persecute, imprison, and kill those who proclaim God's Word, but their efforts to silence the Word will always be to no avail. God overrules all and always will. God has ordained His Word to be proclaimed, bear fruit, to grow and multiply and it shall be by all those who are truly His. 1. The Additions to the Church (Acts 12:24) In spite of the attacks on the church, it kept growing. 2. The Accomplishments of the Church (Acts 12:25) In spite of the opposition to the church, the church still accomplished this special mission. The church will always accomplish the objective for which God has set out for it, regardless of the opposition. 3. The Advancing of the Church (Acts 12:25) In spite of the persecution of the church, it did not stop the providential preparation for the advancing of the church. Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. I want thank you for your faithfulness and continued support on this ministry as we endeavor to take the Gospel of Christ to the uttermost parts of the world. I’m truly grateful for your prayers, sharing our websites articles with others, and the financial support. My wife and I are blessed to be part of such a sweet church family. We sure miss our snowbirds. Can’t wait to have you all back with us. Pastor Torey Blackman. PRAYER: LORD, thank You for Your great love and the Gospel. Help me to do my part in Your Great Commission. I desire to reach others for You, help pave the way for those I will encounter. Continue to open doors at work, school, etc. Help me to never lose sight of the potential and the opportunities that You have given to 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 When Satan Strikes (Matthew 4:1-11)
Matthew 4:1, Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. A "Bonehead of the Day" e-mail reported on an innovative toy recently released for distribution: A U.S. company has an action figure called Invisible Jim that is selling rapidly in Britain for about $2.80. Why is it called Invisible Jim? Because all you get is the packaging. There is no Jim. "Lack of dashing eyes" and "realistic fake hair," "as not seen on TV," and "camouflage suit sold separately" are some of the features listed on the package. The company says they have received no complaints about the empty boxes. A spokeswoman for the distributor says that when the first shipment arrived, they thought there was some mistake at the factory—that they sent the packaging without the product. Good marketing, good packaging, empty box. Sounds a lot like temptation and sin. Temptation always comes in an attractive package with empty promises. As soon as our Lord was baptized and began His public ministry, He was tempted of the devil. While He was in the field of carpentry, chipping away at wood, the devil was undisturbed. But as soon as He began to lay the axe to the root of Satan’s kingdom, our Lord was tempted by the devil. The very first thing that is recorded concerning our Lord’s public ministry is His temptation. Here is a fact of life, from which there is no escape in this world. If you are a child of God, if the Spirit of God is in you, you will be tempted of the devil. Satan tempted our Lord to three things. 1. Satan tempted Jesus to distrust God (Matthew 4:3-4). 2. Satan tempted Jesus to commit suicide (Matthew 4:5-8). 3. Satan tempted Jesus to an act of idolatry (Matthew 4:8-10). Satan is a real adversary to our souls. The Word of God tells us that the devil is real, an adversary with whom we must do battle continually. The beast of hell sought an assault on the very throne of God, or the Son of God! From Matthew 4:1-11, in eleven verses we are told three times that Satan attacked the Lord Jesus Christ. “No matter how many pleasures Satan offers you, his ultimate intention is to ruin you. Your destruction is his highest priority.” - Erwin W. Lutzer. His goal is the everlasting destruction of souls. He continually seeks whom he may devour. For nearly 6,000 years he has been trying to destroy and draw into hell as many as he can. Three times Satan tempted our Lord with great offers that convincingly appeal to the nature of mankind. But three times our Lord foiled Satan’s temptations by quoting the Scriptures. Three times (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10) Jesus met Satan's "if" head-on. Our strategy to escape the temptations of Satan, is for us to bury ourselves in the Word of God. The Bible is the final authority and is unchanging. Jesus used the Scriptures as an effective weapon against temptation. Satan tried to misuse God’s Word in order to tempt Jesus to sin. At times, people who oppose God will also misuse the Bible in an attempt to persuade believers to do something they know is wrong or unwise. Some will often take a verse out of context to support a sinful lifestyle. This why it is important for Christians to know God’s Word thoroughly and beware of those who try to misuse Scripture to support their own opinions or satisfy their own selfish desires. Satan’s first temptation took advantage of His physical hunger for food. During the forty-day fast, through prayer and meditation on God’s Word, Jesus was strengthening and preparing Himself for the work His Father had sent Him to do. Fasting gives up a physical craving to fulfill a greater spiritual need. It involves a switching of priorities. Fasting prioritizes prayer and fellowship with God to feed the spirit instead of the stomach. A person's life is not just physical, but a spiritual side requires God's truth in order to fully live. As our Lord Jesus was tempted, so we shall be. The devil mercilessly tempted the Son of man to eat during a time of prolonged fasting, but he could not successfully lure Him to convert stones into bread. The devil even sought to justify the temptations from Scripture and talked freely about angels, about God, and about grace. This is proof that Satan will use any and every means to prevent the Lord from fulfilling His purpose in your life. The devil knows the Bible, and he uses it. If he can’t convince you to act independently of God, he’ll work through your weaknesses. The devil tempted Jesus to jump from the temple, the problem was that doing so ignored God’s plan. Satan urged Jesus to fulfill God’s will for His life in a way that would bypass the cross. We are never to use disobedience to back God into a corner in order to force him to fulfill his plan. You have no obligation to the devil (James 4:7). Too often, God’s people attempt to worship and serve God on their terms. If Jesus is their Lord, He would be the ultimate authority in their life, including worship. Satan wants your worship; he wants you to bow to him. It is inconceivable for us of Christ worshipping at the devil’s feet. Yet Satan tempts the Lord’s church to bow herself before him rather than preaching and proclaiming the Gospel. Satan stands no chance when it comes to the believer who constantly confronts the devil with the Word of God. The Lord Jesus Christ is just the Saviour that tempted people need! May we run to Him for help and lay our troubles before Him. You will always find that His ear is ready to hear, His heart is ready to feel, and His hand is ready to help. He understands our sorrows, temptations, and troubles! PRAYER: Father, I ask you in the name and through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ to bind and rebuke Satan and to put a hedge of protection around me and each one in my family. In Jesus name, AMEN! 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AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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