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 in 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 God, 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. The pivotal verse in Psalm 37 is verse7. Psalm 37:7, rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. 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, our 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 His will. 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
0 Comments
Not Ashamed (Romans 1:16)
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. Paul was not ashamed or embarrassed of the “gospel of Christ.” It is the greatest blessing known to man. Romans 1:16 became key in the life of 27-year-old evangelist George Whitfield. In 1742, Whitfield was invited to preach at the fair at Marylebone Field, west of London with the condition that they would build him a platform. When the evangelist and his wife arrived at the fair-grounds, the sun was already down and the crowds were wild and rowdy. Muscular prizefighters challenged all comers to bare-fisted fights in the boxing ring. Whitfield seldom displayed fear, but on that night, he was obviously nervous as he mounted the rickety little platform prepared for him. As George raised his powerful voice, people began to gather around him. The crowds at the gambling booths began to thin out toward Whitfield as he preached louder. Shortly into the sermon, George saw a group of bare-chested fighters strutting straight toward him. George's voice began to falter, but he suddenly felt a tug on his trousers. It was his wife Elizabeth who said to him, "George, play the man of God!" Boldness shot through the veins of God's man as he firmly proclaimed without hesitation, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ! It is the power of Christ to everyone that believes!" He threw out his arms in a dramatic gesture and the platform nearly collapsed upon him. The fighters noticed the wobbly platform and tried to bring it down, but a group of Christians huddled around George. He continued to preach like a man trying to stand on the deck of a tossing ship. The people began to throw things at Whitfield. He was hit by a rock, a rotten egg, and manure, yet, he continued to preach on. When the evangelist finished his message, he was escorted to his wagon. A man lunged at George with a sword, but it was deflected by the cane of a friend. In spite of the pressure and harassment, Whitfield was a man of God that was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Not to the same degree of harassment as Whitefield endured, but 13 years of street preaching on Beale Street in Memphis, TN comes very close. May we learn from his courage and his example to not be ashamed of the Lord and His Word. PRAYER: Lord, knowing that only in You is there love, hope, and life; help me to boldly proclaim the gospel of Christ to whomever I encounter. 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 Put It Off Another Day (Hebrews 3:7-9)
Hebrews 3:7-9, Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. On Sunday night, October 8, 1871, D. L. Moody was preaching the gospel in downtown Chicago. He challenged the listening crowd to go home and “think about what I’ve said about the gospel and come back tomorrow and tell me what you’ve decided about following the Lord.” Sounds OK, right? “It’s a big decision. Don’t rush into it. Weigh your options.” About the same hour that meeting was breaking up, a few blocks west of downtown, a blaze had begun in Patrick O’Leary’s cow barn. By midnight the fire had jumped the Chicago River’s south branch and by 1:30 a.m., the entire business district (where Moody had been preaching) was in flames. By 3:00 a.m., the inferno had raced northward, jumped the main river, and devoured over 100,000 homes. Not until after midnight the following day was the fire extinguished as a steady rain left Chicago smoldering and in rubbles—with hundreds dead. Many of the people who had heard the gospel on Sunday night perished in the flames. By not deciding to follow Jesus the moment they heard the invitation, they had missed their opportunity to respond to God’s good news. D.L. Moody’s ministry was changed forever. He said, “From now on, every chance I get I will urge upon people a decision today, today. Today, sir, make a decision today. Although you can choose your actions; you cannot choose the consequences.” In Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10, our Lord said to Zacchaeus,” …Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house”. Every word is important; but notice these two words ‘haste’ and ‘today’. God’s call is urgent. It demands an immediate response. As it was in Paul’s day with Felix, Festus, and Agrippa (Acts 24, 25, 26), it is with us today, again and again. People hear the message of the Gospel proclaimed faithfully and sincerely admonishing them to repent and believe on Christ, but they reply, “Tomorrow!” God’s call is not for tomorrow. It is written, ‘…To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation…’ God’s grace always comes with urgent dispatch. Tomorrow is in Satan’s calendar, but nowhere else. II Corinthians 6:2, (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) When you hear what God’s Word says, do something about it. If you want to go further with God than you have in years gone by, decide today that every time God shows you something, you’re going to get after it. If He lays it out for you, don’t put it off. If the Lord is calling, you need to respond, immediately, without hesitation. PRAYER: Father, too often I have ignored Your prompting when You have called me to speak to others. This life will end sooner than I think. Help me to remain faithful until the end of this life’s journey. 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 is Part 2 of the 2 Part Series. You can read yesterdays devotion by scrolling down below.
Lessons on Longsuffering – Part 2 Wait on the LORD (Psalm 62:5) Psalm 62:5, My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. I’m not sure who needs this post right now, but I trust somebody needs to read it. One of the most important traits of the Christian life is patience. Over 150 times some form of the word “wait” appears in the Bible. Waiting on God results in us being strengthened (Isaiah 40:31). Genuine faith fully waits upon God. We say we’re trusting in God alone, but then we quickly structure how to deliver ourselves, rather than waiting on Him! It’s not that it’s wrong to think about how to get out of a difficult trial, or to use methods to do so. In fact, more often than not we should use plans and methods in dependence on Him. But it’s wrong to give God a token nod of trust and then set Him aside while really we trust in our schemes and methods. One of the hardest things we’ll ever do is to wait on God! Many times, in life GOD tells us to wait, yet we trust our own judgment and do our own will. Choosing your personal will over God’s, will always result in reaping consequences. Delays do not mean God will fail to come through. Be willing to patiently wait on God, and to trust in Him even when you do not understand what He is doing. Waiting on the Lord prepares us for what God has for us in the future. Pearl Wait wore several hats. He was a construction worker who dabbled in patent medicines and sold his ailment remedies door-to-door. In 1897, in the midst of his tinkering, he hit on the idea of mixing fruit flavoring with granulated gelatin. His wife named it Jell-O, thus giving Mr. Wait one more product to peddle. Unfortunately, sales weren’t as strong as he hoped, so just two years later in 1899, Pearl Wait sold his Jell-O rights for $450.00 to Orator Woodward. Mr. Woodward knew the value of marketing, so within just eight brief years in 1907, Mr. Woodward turned a $450.00 investment into a $1,000,000.00 business. Today, not a single relative of Pearl Waite receives royalties from the 1.1 million boxes of Jell-O that are sold each and every day. Why? Because Mr. Waite just couldn’t wait. Learn to wait on God and trust His timing. Waiting, trusting the Lord and living by faith will yield blessing. Impatience will rob you of them. Jell-O turned 122 this year. While God has given you the green light, take advantage or every opportunity and door that is open. However, if the door is not open yet, don’t use the window, wait on Him. God knows exactly where you are. If you wait on His timing, you will find that He has been preparing you and your surroundings. Prayer: Lord, help me to do Your will rather than my own. I know that You have the results already worked out. Teach me to learn to wait on You. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Lessons on Longsuffering – Part 1
Finding Joy in Suffering (Romans 5:3-5) Romans 5:3-5, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. ABC's of Trials Although things are not perfect Because of trial or pain, Continue in thanksgiving Do not begin to blame. Even when the times are hard, Fierce winds are bound to blow; God is forever able-- Hold on to what you know Imagine life without His love; Joy would cease to be. Keep thanking Him for all the things Love imparts to thee. Move out of "Camp Complaining"-- No weapon that is known On earth can yield the power Praise can do alone. Quit looking at the future, Redeem the time at hand. Start every day with worship; To "thank" is a command. Until we see Him coming, Victorious in the sky, We'll run the race with gratitude, Exalting God most high. Yes, there'll be good times; and, yes, some will be bad, but... Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!—Unknown We are given insight as to the work of troubles and trials. Most people groan in tribulation, but the perspective that comes from salvation changes one's view of life's experiences to the extent that trials bring rejoicing more than complaining. The idea is because we are now at peace with God, having access to His grace, and having standing before Him; we also glory in tribulations. Because of the riches of His grace in saving us, we not only can endure troubles, we can rejoice in them because of our standing in Christ. The Bible teaches that God wants to work a character quality in your heart known as patience. Patience has the sense of ‘endurance’ or ‘perseverance.’ Trouble and persecution, especially for Christ’s sake, produce the added benefit of determination to continue. What are some reactions when troubles come? How do you respond? One of the greatest marks of your faith and your confidence in the Almighty is your endurance, your perseverance when trouble comes. This is a guarantee that not only are we saved now, but we will still be saved when we stand before God. As a believer I can have full assurance of salvation. What a promise! The love of God changes everything! God's love was shed abroad in our hearts at the time of our salvation. Our hope is backed up by the love of God. This is where it all started (John 3:16). If it were not for the sacrificial love of God there would be no hope of salvation. God’s love is an amazing love that is never depleted! Our hope is a sure thing because it is grounded upon the love of God. Are you experiencing a major setback in your life? Has a health problem sidelined you? Is some obstacle keeping you from reaching your fullest potential? Don’t give up. God can use your hardships to accomplish in you what no one else could ever do. His plan has not been hindered by your limitations — rather, if you trust Him, it may be heightened by them. With His help you can thrive. PRAYER: Lord, thank You for my salvation, and the hope that I have in Christ. Give me a teachable spirit and a willingness to rejoice in the Lord, no matter what difficulties and I have to face. May my life be a testimony to Your goodness and grace, in Jesus name I pray, AMEN. This is Part 1 of a 2 Part Series. Please visit our 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 Perils of Walking on the Wrong Path (Proverbs 4:14-15)
Proverbs 4:14-15, Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. The Portia spider is a master predator whose chief weapon is deception. To begin with, the spider looks like a piece of dried leaf or foliage blown into the web. When it attacks other species of spiders, it uses a variety of methods to lure the host spider into striking range. Sometimes it crawls onto the web and taps the silken threads in a manner that mimics the vibrations of a mosquito caught in the web. The host spider marches up for dinner and instead becomes a meal itself. The Portia spider can actually tailor its deception for its prey. With a type of spider that maintains its home inside a rolled-up leaf, the Portia dances on the outside of the leaf, imitating a mating ritual. The Portia can find a signal for just about any spider by trial and error. It makes different signals until the victim spider finally responds appropriately—then keeps making the signal that works. Like the Portia spider, Satan's weapon of choice is deception. The false belief that people make many times when they get involved in a sinful lifestyle is that they will have fun and be satisfied in that kind of life. They come to those assumptions because they have been deceived either by Satanic influences in their own lives, or by their own reasoning and envy. It is crucial that you understand that Satan is a great deceiver and an expert at counterfeiting. He never offers you real love, joy, peace, or satisfaction. What he offers is false and artificial. It is not real at all. He camouflages his destructive path in such a way that you don't begin to see the consequences of your sinfulness until the damage has been done in your life. He never wants you to see the end of the road and the destruction, distress, depression, and even death that lie there. God warns us to stay as far away from the path of the wicked as we can. In spite of God's warnings, many feel they are exempt from God’s cautions and warnings. They feel that regardless of what the Bible teaches, they can get away with living however they choose. They ignore the warnings of Scripture and the warnings of the suffering of sinners as they reap the consequences of a wicked life. The Bible is filled with warning signs from God that caution us against taking paths that will lead to trouble. Yet often we see them and continue on our way, not stopping to realize that those signs are there for a reason and that if we keep going despite their warning there will be consequences. Flirting with worldly pleasure will eventually result in getting into bed with worldly pleasure. Some people justify their behavior, choosing to believe that the Biblical warnings were given for another age and time and do not apply to us today. In their pride they believe they will not be hurt as others. They can handle their lifestyle and don't need anyone telling them what to do. In their rebellion, God may allow His children to have their own way at first. In mercy, He gives His children time to repent. Those who persist in their stubborn sinfulness eventually find out that having their own way is also a form of chastisement. A wise person heeds and follows the warning signs and avoids much agony and sorrow. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, help me to be wise in the choices and decisions I make for I know they come with consequences. I’m aware that far greater people than myself have succumbed to immorality simply because they have entertained evil for a moment. May I desire to pursue only those things that would honor You and bless and benefit others and myself. 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 Celebrating Her Life and Legacy - Mrs. Louise McMillan
Yesterday (Tuesday 4th of August) Mrs. Louise McMillan went home to be with the LORD. This precious godly lady, loved the LORD, her family, God’s Word, her church, and people. She was always faithful in attendance as long as her health allowed and was very supportive of the church’s endeavor in the furtherance of the Gospel. She was a God-fearing woman who had strong faith in God and His Word. She stayed faithful to the Lord, never losing her faith in Him. She supported her children and loved them unconditionally. Mrs. Louise supported us from day one and was very vocal about it. She was married to, and loved, Bro. Homer for 69 years. She always thought of others. What was on her mind was what came out! Haha! She loved to cook and feed others and had such a caring spirit. This nation and her churches have always been blessed to have godly mothers who played an active role in the lives of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren children. Abraham Lincoln recognized the value of a godly mother. He said, "No man is poor who has a godly mother." A godly mother's value is enormous. She will be a good influence on her children for the rest of their lives. Every mother has within her the ability to be a mother of great influence wherever she is planted in life. She plays an important role in her child’s potential and prosperity in life. The lessons she teaches her children often carry into the next generation. Parents, perhaps you will never know the complete impact of the child you are raising and what service they may do for the Lord! Give them the best you have while you have them under your care. I pray that they would serve the Lord with all their heart and become godly men and women who will live for the glory of the Lord! Mrs. Louise certainly left this kind of legacy. We miss her already, but are so thankful for know we’ll see her again! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Serve One Another (Galatians 5:13)
Galatians 5:13, For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. The problem is that some had abused the principle of Christian liberty turning it into license. We have been set free from the bondage of sin and are expected to use that liberty as an occasion to be used of God. We have received liberty freely through redemption and it requires responsibility on the part of the Christian. Liberty is not a license, it is an opportunity to help those in need. The real goal of spiritual liberty is to "serve one another." The word love here is “agape” and speaks of sacrificial benevolence. The word "serve" means to do service; to give oneself up. To serve describes an attitude of helping another in such a way that what we “do for others would be to their advantage.” The love of Christ delivers us from the power of the flesh. Although a Christian possesses a flesh nature which motivates him to serve self, he possesses the Holy Spirit, which motivates him to serve others, even at the cost of great sacrifice to self. Resistance of the flesh will keep us from focusing on self. We were not saved to live a self-centered life. The freedom to which we have been called is a freedom to invest time and effort into others. Not only ought we to love one another, but also serve one another in the same spirit. We have a choice to help others or selfishly serve self. Love takes the selfishness out of one and helps that one focus on others. Service without love becomes a chore, but service through love becomes a blessing to all. How should our faith show? Our faith shows by loving and serving others. A person who loves and serves as the Lord intended, does not act like a lord over people; he serves and helps, shows kindness and gentleness, expresses concern and care, demonstrates sympathy and empathy. The person who truly loves identifies with a person, gets down where they are, even below where they are, and ministers to them. Love serves—always reaches out to do whatever it can for the other person. It never withdraws from the other person, feeling that they do not deserve the effort or help. We are obligated to do all we can to share the love of Christ with those who remain in bondage to sin. Think of the lost person who never comes to Christ for salvation because of those who abused the liberty of God. Point to Ponder: Rather than a desire to satisfy the flesh, there should be an overwhelming desire to serve the Lord and others. Question to Consider: Can you imagine the world that we would live in if everyone had a desire to serve others above the desire of pleasing themselves? Prayer, Father in Heaven, thank You for the desire You put in my heart to serve others. Help me to always serve them with a joyful heart. I want to always be passionate about serving others. Give me wisdom to understand their needs, to give of my time without complaining or criticizing. 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 Listening to God (James 1:19)
James 1:19a, Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, ….. Best friends since childhood, a wall-street investor and a farmer went walking through Central Park conversing. At one point the farmer said to his friend, “Did you hear that cricket?” His banker replied, “With all the noise in this park, how do you hear a cricket?” The farmer said, “You hear what you train yourself to hear.” To prove his point, he took a few coins from his pocket and threw them on the sidewalk. Everyone nearby immediately stopped and looked. If we are going to walk with God in the midst of a society that is set on going in the other direction, we must hear His voice. There will always be other voices calling out to distract us from our course, but our ears should be open and eager to hear what God has to say. This is what James had in mind when he instructed us to “be swift to hear” (James 1:9). Though the world speaks loudly, God often whispers. This was the experience Elijah had when he was alone on a mountain, he witnessed loud and powerful events: “And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice” (I Kings 19:12). Hearing that “still small voice” is vital to the renewal of our strength for the Christian walk day after day. But it does not happen unless we are willing to focus our hearing to discover what God has to say. Jesus spoke that those who know Him hear His voice. John 8:47a, He that is of God heareth God's words: ... John 10:4b, … and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. There are times when God speaks loudly, but most of the time He speaks in a still small voice. If we are wise, we will be listening intently when He does. To do so, we must plan some out some quality time with God each day and study His Word and allow Him to guide us. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
Prayer: Lord, every day of my life there are many things I hear. Some I’d rather not hear and others I need to hear. No one else gives me greater joy than to hear from You. When I open my eyes in the morning, I long to hear from You. When my head rests on the pillow at night, I desire you hear from You. When troubles, successes, sadness, and joy come my way, I yearn to hear from You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
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
April 2024
Categories |