Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #4 Same Mind One Toward Another (Romans 12:16) Romans 12:16, Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 1. The believer is to “be of the same mind one toward another”. We are admonished to be of the same attitude toward others. Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” The believer is to seek harmony and to associate with the lowly. We are to recognize the fact that every believer is significant. This means we are to avoid partiality and favoritism in the church., we should treat one another the same in Christ equally. Everybody is somebody in God's house. There are no big shots in God's house. There is no big “I’” or little “you”. The ground is level at the cross and we all were saved from sin. We should endeavor to have unity of mind rather than insisting on having our way. This refers primarily to our attitude and behavior toward others. The believer is to strive to understand them. We are to understand others to such a degree that we can completely identify with and feel what that person feels. Just think of the enormous impact such love and empathy would have upon the world in bringing peace and unity and in meeting the desperate needs of so many. 2.The believer is to “mind not high things, but to condescend to men of low estate”. "High things" refers to seeking the things of preeminence, honor, prestige, and recognition. Haughty in mind literally means "minding high things." Christians are not to be snobbish, nor allow our minds to roam around in the high things of this world. We are to avoid haughtiness and associate with the humble. James is not telling us to ignore the rich, or people of stature, only that we should not favor them over others. Paul is calling for unity among believers. It carries the idea of associating with someone. We are to associate with one another regardless of background or social standing. As Christians, we should treat everyone, from the custodian to the CEO, with the same respect. We should never have favorites but treat everyone as equals because in God's sight we are. When we think we are better than others, we lose the ability and the assertiveness to minister to others. 3.The believer is not to “Be not wise in your own conceits”. The phrase be not wise in your own conceits means not acting like know-it-alls or having inflated or overstated opinions of ourselves. The believer is not to be wise in their own eyes. We are not to have too high an opinion of ourselves, as though we are above and better than others. Beware of overestimating yourself. Not only is it foolish, but it also borders arrogance and is pride. Scripture warns us that the pride of our hearts deceives us. Obadiah 1:3, “The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee...” The believer is not to walk through life conceited, thinking himself above and better than other persons. We are to walk humbly, knowing that we are not better than anyone else. We are not to be proud, cocky, arrogant, and have a know-it-all attitude; thinking we are in anyway superior to others. Proverbs 3:7, “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” This reminds us not to be haughty, imagining that we have all the wisdom, and that others have none. A conceited, self-promoting Christian is a serious contradiction. Every believer should be humbly submissive to the will of God found in the Word of God. Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his autobiography that during his student days in America, he read the Gospels and seriously considered converting to Christianity. So one Sunday, he decided to attend a nearby church and talk to the minister. But when he arrived, the usher refused to give him a seat and suggested he go worship with his own people. He said he left the church and decided, “If Christians have a caste system, I might as well remain a Hindu.” There are no caste of any sort in the body of Christ. That usher not only betrayed Jesus, he turned a person away from trust in Him. For reasons like this, James, was so emphatic in condemning prejudice. In James 2:1, we find that prejudice is inconsistent with Christ’s teachings. It comes from evil thoughts; it insults people made in God’s image; it is a product of selfish motives; it contradicts the biblical definition of love; it shows a lack of mercy toward the less fortunate; it is hypocritical; and it is sinful. Jesus spent time with the Pharisees, publicans, sinners, poor, rich, sick, and the disciples because He cared for all and so should we. A church that is seeking to faithfully serve Christ will pursue and eagerly accept all believers into its fellowship. The only required common ground should be a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and unqualified submission to the Word of God. Points to Ponder: Those who are wise in their own eyes are rarely so in the eyes of other people. It is very easy and common to become cliquish while shunning others. A first class mistake is to treat anyone as a second class citizen. Questions to Consider: How can you demonstrate such love and understanding? Are you practicing humility through true Christian unity? Which of these three areas do you need to grow closer to the Lord? PRAYER: Lord help me to always put others before myself and may I minister to them as I’m ministering to You. Thank you for reading Biblical Building Block #4 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Biblical Building Block #5. 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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Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #3 Preferring One Another (Romans 12:10) Romans 12:10, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; A. Honor One Another Above Yourself. Romans 12:10 expresses the admiration between the saints and the healthy relationship between believers. "Preferring one another" means treating others above yourselves. True love recognizes and honors all believers. It is no respecter of persons. The idea is that we are to allow others to be first. We are to yield the right-of-way. This is true humility. We are not to seek honor for ourselves, but rather genuinely rejoice when others receive honor even when we don’t. The believer is to take the lead in esteeming and expressing respect for others. A church full of believers with each of us esteeming and honoring the other (Philippians 2:1-4). B. Acknowledge the Good Qualities in Other Christians. To give others the recognition. Most people are willing to accept praise rather than deflecting it to others. It should be our desire that others receive the honor instead of ourselves. Honor is not wrong, and is often a blessing from the Lord, but it should be our desire that others receive it. Any credit we receive is due to others who have invested in and influenced our lives. Primarily, all honor should go to God. Secondarily, we should prefer honor go to parents, pastors, teachers, friends, colleagues, and other Christians. We would not be where we are if it had not been for others. In honor, we are to be preferring one another. "In honor" means "in reverence, regard, or respect." The word "preferring" means "to go before and lead." Leaders are to lead with reverence and respect those people they lead. We are not to bash them, belittle them or baby them. C. To Show Genuine Appreciation and Admiration for Others. To honor does not mean to flatter, to give hypocritical praise in hope of having the compliment returned or of gaining favor with the one honored. Again, the very opposite is in mind. To honor is to show genuine appreciation and admiration for one another in the family of God. We are to show respect, to acknowledge the accomplishments of others, to demonstrate genuine love, not being jealous or envious, which have no part in love. We do this by giving compliments. This means acknowledging the accomplishments of others rather than our own. This will make each day so much more enjoyable when we focus on the good in people rather than the bad. D. Honor in Action. To treat one another as valuable and precious. A healthy church is made up of members who have a mutual respect for one another. They submit to one another and take pleasure in the advancement, promotion, and increase of other members. If we are truly "devoted to one another in brotherly love", it almost goes without saying that we will give preference to one another in honor. The virtue here is humility, not thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought to think. Romans 12:3, For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Preferring one another in honor cannot be demonstrated by anyone who thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think. It cannot be practiced by anyone who does not know how to love people unconditionally and selflessly. Consider all your brethren as more worthy than yourself. The idea is that we are to be unselfish and considerate toward them. Allow me to illustrate the truth "in honor preferring one another" by telling of two men who grew up as best friends: Jim was just a little older than Phillip and often assumed the role of leader. They did everything together. They even went to high school and college together. After college they decided to join the Marines. They were sent to Germany together where they fought side by side in one of history's ugliest wars. During an intense battle, heavy gunfire, bombing, and close-quarters combat, they were given the command to retreat. As the men were running back, Jim noticed that Phillip had not returned with the others. Panic gripped his heart. Jim knew if Phillip was not back in another minute or two, then he wouldn't make it. Jim begged his C/O to let him go after his friend, but the officer forbade the request, saying it would be suicide. Risking his own life, Jim disobeyed and went after Phillip. His heart pounding, he ran into the gunfire, calling out for Phillip. A short time later, his platoon saw him hobbling across the field carrying a limp body in his arms. Jim's commanding officer upbraided him, shouting that it was a foolish waste of time and an outrageous risk. "Your friend is dead," he added, "and there was nothing you could do." "No sir, you're wrong," Jim replied. "I got there just in time. Before he died, his last words were 'I knew you would come.'" Love for the brethren is a proof of spiritual life (I John 3:14) but demonstrating kindly affectioned to the brethren is a rare grace. The world's morality says, “Take care of self.” Paul teaches the reverse. The acrostic for “JOY” is still true.
Question to Consider: Can people depend upon us if we are needed or are you selfish or unconcerned about others? Point to Ponder: If so, you need an attitude adjustment. PRAYER: Lord, fill my heart with love and help me to love as abundantly as You love me. Help me to be committed to the comfort of other believers. In Jesus Name, AMEN! Thank you for reading Biblical Building Block #3 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Biblical Building Block #4. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #2 - Be Kindly Affectioned One to Another (Romans 12:10) Romans 12:10, Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Romans 12:10, expresses the affection between the saints and the healthy relationship between believers. Believers are to love each other in a family way. Loving the saved is proof of salvation. I John 3:14, We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. Loving the brethren also tells the world that we are Jesus' follower. Jesus stressed the importance of brotherly love. John 13:34-35, A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. In this way, people who do not know Christ will notice & be drawn to His love, which they see reflected in us. Brotherly love is one of the traits by which the world will know that we are Christians. I John 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. Paul is saying that we should love one another as if we were related. Christians are members of one family. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. We are a family of children who have actually been adopted by God as His sons & daughters (II Corinthians 6:17-18; Galatians 4:4-6; Romans 8:16-17). This is dealing with the Christian family, the brothers and sisters within the church. The words "kindly affectioned" means the love existing between family members; indicating a family love for one another. The believer is to love by loving the brethren in Christ, by being kind & affectionate toward them. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are to treat each other as brothers and sisters in the family of God. We are to love because we are brethren. We are to have a love for all brethren, regardless of their status (race, age, gender, social status). I Thessalonians 4:9, But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. In our interactions with the brethren, we have a responsibility to show brotherly love. I Peter 2:22, Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper and listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. “Really?” she heard whispered. “I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!” and, “I didn’t know others liked me so much,” were most of the comments. No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn’t matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on. Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin. The teacher was the last do so. As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. “Were you Mark’s math teacher?” he asked. She nodded: “Yes.” Then he said: “Mark talked about you a lot.” After the funeral, most of Mark’s former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark’s mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. “We want to show you something,” his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. “They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.” Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark’s classmates had said about him. “Thank you so much for doing that,” Mark’s mother said. “As you can see, Mark treasured it.” All of Mark’s former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, “I still have my list. It’s in the top drawer of my desk at home.” Chuck’s wife said, “Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album.” “I have mine too,” Marilyn said. “It’s in my diary.” Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. “I carry this with me at all times,” Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: “I think we all saved our lists.” That’s when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again. Tell those you love why you appreciate them while you can. PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the friends You have put in my life. I am richly blessed to have such loving, faithful, and true relationships. When I consider others who live such lonely lives, I must express my appreciation to You for precious people in my life. Lord, I also ask You to please help me see those who need to be loved so I can include them as a part of my life. I want to give to others the love and support that I have received. In Jesus Name, AMEN! Thank you for reading Biblical Building Block #2 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Biblical Building Block #3. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #1 - Peace With One Another (Mark 9:50) Mark 9:50, Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another. A man bought a farm, and soon after he met his nearest neighbor. "Have you bought this place?" asked the neighbor. "Yes." "Well, you've bought a lawsuit." "How is that?" "Well, sir, I claim your fence line is ten feet on my side, and I am going to take the matter to the court and prove it." The newcomer said, "Oh! don't do that. If the fence is on your side of the line we will just take it up and move it back." "Do you mean it?" "Of course, I do," was the answer. "Well," said the man, "that fence stays just where it is." The word peace means more than living life with no conflict. It refers to tranquility of life in the midst of problems. This has the idea of binding or weaving together; to join. It means that a person is bound, woven and joined together with himself, with God and with others. It is the sense that our lives are tightly bound in the Lord and the very fabric of our being has been woven in Him. Peace is always born out of reconciliation. Its source is found only in the reconciliation wrought by Jesus Christ. Peace always has to do with personal relationships: a man's relationship with himself, with God, and with his fellow men. The Holy Spirit can eliminate our stress if we allow Him to produce three kinds of peace in our lives. The first kind of peace is... 1. Peace with God (Romans 5:1) Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Peace begins with God (Romans 5:1). We receive peace with God when we receive His gift of salvation. Peace with God means there is no more hostility between God and us, no sin blocking our relationships with Him or diverting us from His purpose. Peace with God means we no longer live as enemies of God and His purpose for our lives. Only those who receive Jesus Christ enjoy peace with God. Peace with God is a gift we receive when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Everyone is searching for peace because our lives are often filled with the stress of pressures, problems, and pain. Stress gets us down; that's why more prescriptions are written for antidepressants than just about any other drug. 2. Peace of God (Philippians 4:7) Philippians 4:7, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. There is peace of God (Philippians 4:7) which comes from prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving to God (Philippians 4:6). The Christian can enjoy peace in the midst of trouble. Peace is not found in the absence of trouble but in the presence of God. Every promise in the Bible has a premise. The premise, or condition, for receiving the peace of God is prayer. In life we have two choices: pray or panic. Prayer keeps our minds focused on God's power rather than on our problems. How does Isaiah 26:3 express this wonderful truth? Isaiah 26:3, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. The Hebrew word stayed means fixed or focused. When we focus on God and trust Him, we will experience perfect peace of heart, mind, and soul. 3. Peace Among Others (Romans 12:18) Romans 12:18, If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. As Christians, we are to be peacemakers, not "peace breakers", everywhere we go. James 3:18, And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. We cannot make peace with one another if we do not have peace within our own hearts. Peace begins with God because He is the author of peace (I Corinthians 14:33). I Corinthians 14:33, For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. The devil would rather have us in confusion, division, and friction with one another. To be at peace one with another is an admonition to brother-love and forbearance, a requirement frequently stressed by the Lord and absolutely mandatory for all who would follow in his steps. God’s people should be in the business of examining their own hearts. We need to remember that it glorifies God when His people live lives of commitment and character. Ephesians 4:3, Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. God’s glorified when we forget about who might be the greatest among us and prove that we are His by loving one another and by being at peace one with another! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for the Prince of Peace and all the ways He brings peace to my life. Thank You first for establishing peace with me by allowing Your Son to settle all the debts and offenses that would have prevented me from ever knowing You. Thank You for the peace of Your presence and power in my life that overcomes all obstacles and draws me to You. In Jesus Name, AMEN! Thank you for reading Biblical Building Block #1 of this series. 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 Is God Able?...He is More Than Able! (Daniel 3:16-18)
Daniel 3:16-18, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. When Robert Morrison was on his way to China, where he would serve as a missionary, the captain of the ship was skeptical of his calling and gave him a hard time. As Morrison was leaving the ship, the captain said to him, “I suppose you think you’re going to make an impression on China.” “No,” Robert Morrison replied simply, “I don’t think I will make an impression on China but I believe God will.” The furnace that we read about represents trials and testing. Like these believers our faith is put to the test sometimes. They would not bow, bend, budge, break, or burn to this world. What did they find in the furnace? 1.They Found the Presence of God (Daniel 3:25). God’s presence gave them courage, comfort, and council. 2.They Found the Protection of God (Daniel 3:26). God protected them from their fall, their foes, and their fire. 3.They Found the Promise of God (Daniel 3:28). The trusted the God’s Word, way, and will. 4.They Found the Power of God (Daniel 3:27). They were not singed, nor smelled, nor suffered. Imagine the testimony of these men when they came out of the fiery furnace. The three young men answered firmly: they refused to plead for their lives. Trusting and loving the Lord with all their hearts, they surrendered themselves into the hands of God. They informed the king that they did not need to defend themselves, that their first loyalty belonged to the Lord and Him alone. Moreover, they knew that their God was able to save them from the fiery furnace. In fact, they were casting themselves upon the Lord to actually rescue them. But even if the Lord chose not to deliver them, they still could not betray Him. No matter what the king did to them, they could not worship the gods of Babylon nor the gold image that represented the state. The strong, steadfast faith of these young men is a perfect picture of total surrender to the Lord. In times of trial or temptation, the one thing we need above all else is a strong, steadfast faith. The three young men could have easily compromised their faith. They could have done what we are so often tempted to do and take the easy way out. A solid, unwavering faith is needed to withstand the temptation to compromise. Throughout life, we will face critical decisions just as Daniel’s three friends did. If we choose to deny the Lord, we may escape the threats and the suffering for a brief time, but the day of departure from this world will still come. Therefore, the Lord encourages us to place our faith in Him and to grow a strong and steadfast faith. Ephesians 3:20, Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Throughout the Bible there are examples of God demonstrating His ability. The whole point of prayer is to ask God to do what we cannot do in our own strength or ability. If we think that we can pull it off ourselves, then we don’t need to pray. God often puts His people in impossible situations to display His power and glory. God is not just able to do beyond what we ask, but abundantly beyond. But that’s not enough, He is able to do far more abundantly beyond what we ask. But, we still aren’t to the limit: The Lord our God is the God of omnipotent ability. The Omnipotent God operates in a realm that is far beyond our ability to even understand. His ability is absolute. What limitless power! His power is unlimited. He can do anything He wills. Omnipotence knows no obstacles. He is not hanging around and just sitting there—He is working within us. Whatever is required to accomplish the purposes and promises of God, “He is able” to perform. God is never defeated. Though He may be opposed, attacked, and resisted, still the ultimate outcome can never be in doubt. Do you serve a God that can? From Genesis to Revelation, we see God’s mighty power at work. He is the God that walked with the 3 Hebrew children in the fiery furnace and rescued them out of Nebuchadnezzar’s evil hands. He is the God of Daniel who quieted the mouths of the Lions and was able to deliver him from their grasp. He is the God of Moses who parted the Red Sea and drowned the Egyptian army that pursued God’s people. He is the God of David that guided the single stone from David’s slingshot to Goliath’s head. He is the God that raised Jesus from the dead and defeated death, hell and the grave. He is a God that is greater than my understanding or ability to explain who He is. He is the Lord God almighty. How big is your God? Is He a God that can? PRAYER: Father, although I will never fully understand Your Almighty power, I do know that nothing is ever too hard or difficult for You. I know that Your plans for me are far larger than I can imagine. Help me to never limit or hinder Your work in and through my life. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com This morning’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study. You can view this current study in its entirety by visiting this sites Bible Study link.
The Watchman (Ezekiel 3:17; 33:7) Ezekiel 3:17, Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. Ezekiel 33:7, So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. The Titanic is one of the worst maritime disasters in history. The British luxury liner Titanic (46,000 gross tons) of the White Star Line, on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City, struck an iceberg about 95 miles south of the Grand Banks of Newfoundland just before midnight on April 14, 1912. Of the more than 2,220 persons aboard, about 1,513 died. The ship had been proclaimed unsinkable because of its 16 watertight compartments. Nevertheless, the iceberg sufficiently damaged the Titanic to make it sink in less than three hours. Investigations found that the ship had been steaming too fast in dangerous waters, that lifeboat space had been provided for only about half of the passengers and crew. Warnings came, however, the response was “You’re jamming up our signals.” The Californian, closest ship to the scene, had not come to the rescue because its radio operator was off duty and asleep. A warning can be a matter of life and death. The Intelligence Agency of a nation is of critical importance in protecting its people. Whether a satellite or a plane in the sky, a mechanical or human spy, or a soldier or guard on the border, a nation’s ability to gain intelligence determines its capability to protect itself. In ancient history a nation protected itself by establishing fortified cities and outposts along its borders as well as by posting military patrols at key locations throughout the land. But most important of all were the watchmen who were strategically posted along the walls of a city. It was the watchman’s duty to scan the horizon for any approaching enemy and to be alert to any danger within the city, such as fire or civil disturbance. As God’s man, I must take the Word of God forth to the world, proclaiming the glorious message of salvation to every human being of every generation. As a watchman God gave Ezekiel some warnings regarding his ministry. According to Ezekiel 33:6, God will hold a watchman accountable. A watchman (one positioned in a tower or on the city wall to look out for invaders or approaching disaster) who saw destruction coming and did not sound an alarm to warn the people would be held responsible for their deaths. In God’s kingdom, a pastor who does not warn those who are uncommitted or rebellious against God about the danger of judgment will be held accountable for the people’s spiritual destruction. All Christians have the responsibility to share their faith with people who are spiritually lost or without a personal relationship with God and to help fulfill the mission Jesus gave to the church (Matthew 28:19). We will give an account to God if we refuse to obey Jesus’ Great Commission (Acts 20:26). Ezekiel was to be a watchman, warning that all who continued to resist God would be punished with death (Ezekiel 3:18). If Ezekiel failed to warn the wicked, he would be held accountable for their deaths. Faithful men of God today embrace Ezekiel’s example by warning those in their congregations who are behaving in ungodly ways that they will be excluded from God’s kingdom if they do not repent (I Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:18-21; Ephesians 5:5). God’s people are to be taught that they must admit their sins, turn from their own selfish ways and begin to follow God’s purposes. Those who fail to warn the unfaithful will themselves be accountable to God for people’s spiritual destruction. We must always remember that God has given us the responsibility to take His message of forgiveness and new life through Christ to the entire world (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). This message includes the warning of eternal death for all who refuse to accept Christ’s forgiveness. God has made all of Christ’s followers his watchmen (Matthew 18:15). According to Ezekiel 33:7, God had made Ezekiel His watchman. God emphasized again that Ezekiel was to faithfully continue to warn the people to turn from sin and to accept God’s salvation. Today the church and its pastor must help spread the message of spiritual salvation through Jesus Christ to all nations (Ezekiel 3:18). I believe we all are accountable for giving the Gospel to the lost. We have a responsibility to try to tell people how to be saved either by witnessing to them or giving them a gospel tract. Do you have friends or loved ones that need the Lord? If so, make an effort to tell them about Jesus Christ and how to be saved. If you don't know Christ, you can turn to Him right now. According to an old legend, a man became lost in his travels and wandered into a bed of quicksand. Confucius saw the man's predicament and said, "It is evident that men should stay out of places such as this." Next, Buddha observed the situation and said, "Let that man's plight be a lesson to the rest of the world." Then Mohammed came by and said to the sinking man, "Alas, it is the will of God." Finally, Jesus appeared and said, "Take my hand, brother, and I will save you." If you know not the Lord, He will save you if you will ask Him. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, thank You for those You sent my way to share the Gospel with me. Help me, that I may share the Gospel with those You allow me to connect with. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Presence of God Calms Our Fears (Hebrews 13:5-6)
Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” We have nothing to fear—and yet we do fear. We need an answer for our fears. When you’re suffering, you reach for comfort and hope. You reach for some reason to get up in the morning and fight again. You reach for something that won’t make your suffering the dominant experience that troubles your heart. What gives us comfort is knowing that when we pray to the Lord, He is always near. I can’t think of anything that is more comforting than these words: I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. This promise of His presence is found in the following verses: Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5. The God of the universe, Who created and controls everything, is with us in our suffering, and He will never leave. Nothing comes into our life but what God allows. Sometimes He says, “I will let her go through that. She will draw down upon My strength. Allow it.” God may also say, “No. Don’t allow that. It will overwhelm him. He is not ready.” Nothing comes into your life that God doesn’t already know about. And since He is with you, you don’t have to fear. Often, we want the benefit of claiming “God is with me,” but we spend too little time talking to God who is always with us. Can fear be avoided entirely? Probably not. Remember, God never gave us the spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7).But Scripture gives us a plan that prepares against and responds to fear. Psalm 56:3, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” God's Word gives us hope when we find ourselves overtaken by fear. Instead of wallowing in it, we can put our trust in Him. We can deliberately turn away from fear and toward the Lord. This affirmation is also found in Isaiah 12:2, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid...” One of the dangers of suffering is that we can fall into God-amnesia, where our suffering overwhelms our knowledge or remembrance of His presence. God is never disgusted by our weakness and He will never turn His back us. He will never leave and He will never get overwhelmed. He will never grow impatient, He will never be unfaithful. What could be more comforting? Why wait for fears to come before you decide to trust God? Practice trusting Him as a daily exercise. When you do, you may not even notice how many fears you’ll simply walk by, because your attention will be on the One who is not threatened by any fearful thing. Prayer, Father, I confess that sometimes my fears reveal I’m not trusting You as I know I should but trusting in something or someone else instead. Thank you for reminding me just how fragile everything else is compared to other You. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking me. Thank You for never letting me down and always proving Yourself trustworthy. Help me learn to trust You increasingly and banish fears from my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way, Please Share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Don’t Let Your Past Keep You From Serving God (Philippians 3:13-14)
We need grace in order to forget. We are often encouraged to remember and warned against forgetting, but it is just as important to forget as it is to remember. For many, having an excellent memory has lead to heartache and brought pain and regret. Joseph thanked God that He had made him forget, and Paul often spoke of forgetting as a state of progress. Let’s not misunderstand or lose sight of what he was writing. Obviously, no man can ever forget his past, but as the years of our walk with the Lord increase, we will have many great memories. However, memories do not always inspire. There are many who mourn due to the memory of past sin, regrets and failures. There is neither strength, nor joy in their souls because they lack the grace to forget. Paul pressed forward for a prize. To him there was something greater to be gained by moving ahead and not lingering in the past. That is true for us in terms of offense as well. There is simply nothing to be gained by going back to past hurts and refusing to get over them. However, by forgiving and pressing forward, we gain a greater attribute of Christ-likeness. We are often inspired by those who are following, reaching and pressing toward the finish line despite life’s challenges. 1. Remember God Forgets God always remembers to forget the sin He forgives (Isaiah 43:25; Hebrews 8:12; 10:17) God gives the assurance to the sinner who turns to Him that his sin will not be mentioned to him (Ezekiel 18:22). He is so direct in His forgiveness of our sins that He casts all our sins into the depths of the sea, ‘"Into the depth of the sea"! (Micah 7:19). Nothing could be more point-blank. If He blots out, why should we try to remember? Think of it, the devil will offer us any tackle he can in order for us to see if we could fish them up again. The Lord threw them in. Let us always be content to let them be buried there. It is miserable to see some people's nauseating distress over their past when God has already forgiven them long ago. He forgets—why should we remember? If we believe in the forgiveness of sins, let us not torture ourselves with useless and needless pain. Forget the things which are behind. Leave sin where He has placed it—under the blood of the Cross. 2. Regrets are Futile In life, there are both triumphant victories and crushing defeats. When an opportunity has been missed we observe its worth. Life's lessons on learning about losses should teach us to discipline our mind, but for some people it only gets on the nerves. “If I had only listened the first time and acted more wisely, how different life would have been!” They sit down and fret over what might have been, all the while other opportunities are slipping by. Forget past chances and bend your back to the one at your feet. The fire has died in some hearts because they can never seem to forget their past mistakes. Some unpleasant trial has derailed them and they have never gotten back on track. The minds of many have become a graveyard haunted by past regrets. Joseph thanked God that He had made him forget, not only his travail, but also his father's house. Of course, he never forgot his home entirely, but it ceased to hold him captive. Our lives should be so filled with meaning and purpose that its attractive desire compels us to focus on the future, not in the past. Keep in mind, that everyday the Lord offers new opportunities for us to manifest His glory and build up His kingdom. Each day is valuable, and with it presents opportunities that will never come again. Although the past cannot be recaptured, there are pages for tomorrow still blank, waiting to be turned so life’s journeys can be recorded. 3. Resist Focusing on Former Successes As strange as it may sound, successes in life can do more harm than failures to some. No matter how many victories and successes one has achieved for the Lord Jesus Christ, he is to never cease from the laboring in his service. Some have been known to go on a lengthy leave of absence from God's service after a monumental success. However, each new triumph should inspire a new desire, igniting a passion to perform another task. But sometimes spiritual paralysis sets inside the soul, leaving the servant of God comatose. Paul is stating it is great we have many victories in this life, but don't focus too long on them because know they are in the past. Press on to future achievements. Great achievements have been the undoing of many servants because they have failed to forget. If we are constantly focusing on past victories we will only find ourselves stumbling forward as we seek future triumphs. Prayer, Lord Jesus, help me to pursue toward the prize without wavering on life's highway. Thank You for forgetting my past and giving me strength I need to press on. I know that what lies ahead for me are many opportunities to build up Your Kingdom. I look to You as You guide me and provide for me with spiritual stamina for the journey ahead. May I not look back and never give up. I await the day to see Your face and hear these words, "Well Done". If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com God’s Power & Praise (II Samuel 5:17-25)
II Samuel 5:17-25, But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. 18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 19 And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. 20 And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. 21 And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. 22 And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. 23 And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. 24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. 25 And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer. After getting direction from the Lord, David attacked the Philistines and defeated them. Like the water gushing from a broken dam and sweeping its path, God helped David to sweep the Philistines. He gave God the credit and glory for the victory and named the place of victory Baalperazim, which means "Master of the Breakthroughs." That is what our Lord is to us. God has a way of coming through when the storms are the darkest, when the floods of frustration are raging, when life is like a fog and we can't find our way, or when we don't know what to do or what direction to take. God breaks through for us. He is the master of the breakthroughs! We will enjoy victory in our own lives when we rely upon His power and praise Him for His blessings. Romans 8:37, Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Psalm 21:13, Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power. I Corinthians 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. II Timothy 4:18, And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. God broke through for Israel at the Red Sea. God broke through for the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. God broke through for Daniel in the lion's den. God broke through for Esther and the Jews against Haman and the Persian Law. God broke through for the Apostles that were imprisoned. God broke through for the Saviour when He arose the third day after His crucifixion. In 1880, a Christian couple, George and Sarah Clarke, purchased the lease for the Pacific Garden Mission of Chicago. This was the second oldest rescue mission in the United States, which ministered to homeless alcoholics and downtrodden men and women. Colonel and Mrs. Clarke bore the cost of the mission themselves, but as expenses grew and the ministry expanded, their funds ran low. Eventually, the day came when they could not pay the rent. Attempts to secure the needed funds failed, and Colonel Clarke was told he had only 24 hours to make the payment. Otherwise, he would lose his lease, and the Pacific Garden Mission would close. Throughout the night, Colonel and Mrs. Clarke prayed, asking God to guide and to provide in His own way and time. They reminded the Lord of the souls being saved each night, of the men and women whose lives were being salvaged. Determining to trust God, they remained before the throne of grace in simple faith and in earnest pleading until the breaking of dawn. When they emerged from their Morgan Park house that morning, they gasped. Something had happened to their front yard. It was covered with white. It was something that instantly reminded them of the manna God provided the children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings in the book of Exodus. Looking closer, they discovered their lawn was filled with mushrooms of the very best quality, which was quite mysterious because it wasn't the season for mushrooms. Harvesting the crop of mushrooms, the Clarkes carted the mushrooms down the street and sold them to the chefs at the Palmer House, the famed hotel just off of Michigan Avenue, for a large price. The receipts were enough to pay the rent, with enough left over to meet other ministry expenses. So, the Pacific Garden Mission carried on, its work undeterred. Hundreds of thousands have been won to Christ through this ministry, and through the lives that have been saved and changed. One well-known convert was a professional baseball player from the Chicago White Sox. His name was Billy Sunday. Billy became an evangelist for God. Historians that studied his ministry state that he preached to more than one hundred million people face-to-face and that over one million people came to Christ in his revivals. The fruit of his ministry was an extension of the Pacific Garden Mission and the power of God working in his life. Questions to Consider: How is the Lord using you to minter within your church? When was a time the Lord gave you a Baalperazim moment? Points to Ponder: Give God the credit and glory for those times He gives you victory when He “breaks through” your circumstances. When you feel like you can’t make it through the day it’s time to enquire of the Lord, and get ready to give Him the PRAISE. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com When God Says, Wait! (Psalm 37:1-9)
Psalm 37:1-9, Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. Waiting is one of the hardest things we try to do. So many people simply cannot wait for God to work and often take things into their own hands instead. When we seek God and His answer seems to be "wait," we don't always hear it because that answer is not the one we are seeking. Often believers view waiting on God as inactivity. But waiting is not inactive, it is pro-active. It is the believer wisely choosing not to do something blindly because he or she senses the Lord is saying "wait." If we are to follow God or hear from Him, we must be sensitive to His Spirit and discern when we are to step out in faith and when we are to wait. What God desires is that we would delight in Him. These verses list a lot of practical things we must do before God will give us what we are seeking. What are some evidences that we are not "waiting on the Lord" in our hearts (Psalm 37:1)? Fretting and being envious are evidences that we are not really waiting in our hearts. What needs to come before the Lord will give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:3-5)? We must trust Him, and we must do good. We are called to delight in Him so that He can begin to shape our desires. We need to commit our way to Him and let Him do it. Delighting oneself in the Lord means to find your greatest joy and satisfaction in your personal relationship with God. Those who delight in the Lord enjoy a sense of nearness to God, and they take great pleasure in living by the truth of God’s Word. They want what God wants, so He gives them the desires of their hearts. When we delight ourselves in God and find our greatest satisfaction in His purposes for us, God Himself places the right kinds of desires within our hearts; then He fulfills them. The pivotal verse in Psalm 37 is verse7. Instead of becoming heated or stirred up over evildoers, we should calmly rest in the Lord. Rest means to be silent and still, to be quiet and to settle one’s nerves, to be at peace. It indicates the absence of emotional distress and the ability to be quiet and relax. We should rest in the confidence that God will deal with the wicked. God works according to His timetable, not ours. We need to wait patiently for Him and be at peace. Psalm 37:7, "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." But why? I believe there are lessons God teaches us through waiting on Him. 1. Waiting teaches us to keep our eyes on Him, not on our circumstances. In 2018, for nine months, Joy was very ill. Through it all, learning to wait on the Lord strengthened our faith in Him and confirmed our love for one another. 2. Waiting teaches us that the giver is more important than the gift. A child who always gets what he wants when he wants it is not a grateful child and ultimately isn't happy. Waiting helps us put life in perspective, and often it causes us to come to grips with what we have rather than complaining about the things we don't have. 3. Waiting demonstrates faith in God instead of in ourselves. Waiting is a choice. It’s a decision that says, “I only want what God will provide, final!” What God provides is far greater than what we can do on our own. When you live without worry and doubt, you will come to realize the rich blessings God has given you. You will see the fruits of serving Christ. Are you waiting on the Lord for your decision? If you are not, you will find yourself making things happen on your own. Those who are unwilling to wait for God’s will are foolishly making the choice to forfeit it. Question to Consider: Are you completely satisfied with God's blessings in your life? Point to Ponder: Every time you think about complaining, think of a praise instead. You will start developing the patience needed to live a contented life. Prayer: Father in Heaven, I trust You, and I’m going to wait for Your timing. Forgive me for the times I’ve worried and doubted You. Teach me to trust and wait for You to act. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
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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