|
Storms of Life Series – Part 3
The Pressure of the Storm (Mark 4:37) Mark 4:37, “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.” The Bible says that the ship was full of water. It looked as if it would go under any moment. Sometimes the storms of life can come so suddenly and can be so severe that the strongest of people are afraid they are going under, afraid they are not going to survive. This must have been a violent storm because some of these men were fishermen and were used to storms at sea. The presence of Christ on board does not guarantee a smooth passage. On the contrary, the enemy will do his best to stir up a storm. It’s a wonderful thing when Jesus calms a storm at sea. But it’s also a wonderful thing when Jesus calms a storm in a human heart. So this particular miracle is an illustration of life. Here is a picture of life as a voyage on a sea, along with the storms that come up unexpectedly in your life and mine. Probably some of us could say, “Yes, that is exactly my situation today. I’m going through a storm. My life’s ship is being tossed to and fro by waves of adversity. I’m in a storm just like Jesus and the disciples were on the sea of Galilee.” Because of that, this passage of Scripture applies convincingly to your life and mine. Its lessons can be a blessing to us. The Lord sends storms in our lives to help us, not hurt us. Here’s a storm of suffering. Here’s a hurricane of heartache. Here’s a tempest of turmoil. Here’s a squall of sorrow. Oh, the suffering that can come into a life. Do you sometimes say, “I get rid of one ailment and here comes another”? Sometimes storms of sorrow come into our lives. Remember, “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” Believers are not exempt from sickness, poverty, natural disasters, bereavement, death, and various ills of life. And there arose a great storm of wind.” Are you in a storm today? A financial storm? A health storm? A relational storm? Whatever the storm you’re in, storms make us anxious. First of all, notice that this storm came up suddenly, as was common on the sea of Galilee. The sea of Galilee was located down between hills, in a kind of basin surrounded by hills. Through those hills were ravines which made it possible for the wind to sweep down into the sea. From time to time, cold air would use those ravines like a funnel. Cold air sweeping down onto the sea of Galilee and hot air rising from the sea would collide and cause a violent storm. The storm would just fall out of the thunder clouds. It could be perfectly calm one moment and the next moment people would find themselves in a furious gale with waves threatening the stability of the ship. That’s the way life is. Things will be just as calm as they can be, and then, all of a sudden, you are in an emergency, right in the midst of a storm. We never know what a twenty-four day is going to bring, do we? Twenty-four hours can change the course of a life. PRAYER: Lord, I know that trials are a part of life and that You allow me to go through them to make me better. During those times, I resolve to lean upon You, to trust You to carry me through, 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
The Storms of Life Series – Part 2
The Passage of the Ship (Mark 4:35-36) The journey of the ship is a picture of the journey of a beleiver’s life. Here in Mark, we have a picture of the believer’s life as one journey’s through the storms and stresses in life. This indicates the remarkable guidance of the Lord in directing His own through the trackless lanes of life and bringing them safely to the desired haven. They were all on the ship and they were all at the sea. In fact, you will notice in Mark 4:36 that other little ships were with him. We are all in this voyage together. There are other little ships besides ours. But there was something especially different about this particular ship: Jesus was on board. If a person will just get Jesus on board in their life as Lord and Saviour, it will make a critical difference. In our life there are two important points to consider. 1. The Ships Direction (Mark 4:35). When Jesus is on board, a person can have a sense of direction. “Let us pass over unto the other side” (Mark 4:35). You can guarantee they were going on the other side. We are constantly on the move. We are all going places. We have a destination. The important question we must ask ourselves is, “Is Jesus the captain of the ship?” You and I need Christ to be the captain of our ship of life. It is possible for Him to be in the ship but not the captain of the vessel. Is Jesus the captain (MASTER) of your ship? Have you invited Him to take over the controls of your life? If you do, it gives you some direction. If you do not know Christ, or if Jesus is not the captain of your vessel in life, then there is no direction from the Lord. There is meaninglessness and futility in life. Without Jesus, life is like a ship tossed to and fro by the waves, with no chart, no compass. 2. The Ships Destination (Mark 4:36). Many people do not know where they are going in life. They have no sense of purpose or reason for their existence. They may have that temporal sense of direction, but most people have no overall purpose in their lives. It’s a terrible thing to be adrift on life’s sea and not know why you are here, or what the meaning of life really is. There are three great questions in life: Who Am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? We need to know the answers to these three. We need to know who we are. We need to know where we are going. Jesus’ words here gave a destination. When Jesus comes into your life, He comes in, not only as your Saviour, but also as your security. The presence of Jesus is a guarantee that one of these days your life’s ship is going to land safely over on the shore of glory. That’s the only real security in life. You can have stocks and bonds, you can have houses and lands, you can have all the things that people consider security in this world, but if you do not have Jesus in your life, you have nothing that you can ultimately count on. You are either on one of two ships. If you have Jesus in your heart, then you are the ark, safe above the judgment. If you do not have Jesus in your heart, you’re on the Titanic, headed for destruction. PRAYER: Lord, Heavenly Father, thank You for Your guidance. Forgive me for getting ahead of Your plans, and help me know when to stop and listen for Your direction. Your ways are perfect. 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 Storms of Life (Mark 4:35-41) – Part 1
Mark 4:35-41, “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” In this life, you are going to have some storms. We must note that the presence of Jesus on the boat did not keep the storm from coming. Just because we are saved and have Christ in our heart does not mean storms will not come into our life. Notice: Jesus was with them in the boat and the storm still came. Just because you’re saved and a child of God does not mean that storms will not come into your life. You’re going to have storms even though Christ dwells within you. Remember, there is no storm that arises in your life that He cannot carry you through. There are different types of storms people encounter. The Bible says that our Father in heaven causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). “Into each life some rain must fall.” Therefore, anguish knocks at every heart and pain makes its way into every home. The good news is that if He is with you, He will take you through the storm to the other side. Storms may come quick without any notice, or at times, seem unexplainable. It’s a wonderful thing when Jesus calms a storm at sea. But it’s also a wonderful thing when Jesus calms a storm in a human heart. Here is a picture of life as a voyage on a sea along with the storms that come up unexpectedly in your life and mine. Probably some of us could say, “Yes, that is exactly my situation today. I’m going through a storm. My life’s ship is being tossed to and fro by waves of adversity. I’m in a storm just like Jesus and the disciples were in on the sea of Galilee.” The journey of the ship is a picture of the journey of a believer’s life. Jesus Christ overcame the devil, diseases, death, demons, and disasters. At the end of Mark 4, we see a miracle where Jesus overcame the realm of nature. It illustrates to us that what Jesus is able to do in the physical realm, He is also able to do in the spiritual realm. If we are not careful when storms come, we will fear and doubt and miss out on the lessons the Lord is trying to teach us in the storm. “When Jesus says ‘pass over,’ you don’t need to fear going under!” A storm will never come into your life that is greater than God. Over the next several days, we will look at the following verses in the text and see what the Bible teaches us regarding the “storms of life”. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, Life’s troubles are certainly tempests. We cannot expect to get through life without the winds of adversity. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and live confined by fear. However, Lord, You, are my place of refuge, and the shelter in the time of storm. 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 Giving Up More…Only to Gain Less (Mark 8:36-37)
Mark 8:36-37, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” American evangelist, Peter Cartwright, was preaching from Mark 8:36-37 in 1818 at a Presbyterian Church in Nashville. It was a beautiful October evening and the church was packed. Just as Cartwright shouted the words, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”, in walked General Andrew Jackson, who was staying nearby. Jackson (who didn't come to Christ until late in life) was a fiery-tempered, hard-drinking, horse-racing, duel-fighting hero. Instantly a buzz swept over the congregation and heads turned. The host pastor, Rev. Mac, excitedly pulled Cartwright's coattail and whispered, "General Jackson has come in." Cartwright roared back, "Who is General Jackson? Who is General Jackson?" He then declared that if the General didn't get his soul converted, he would spend eternity in Hell. Rev. Mac was horrified, and the next morning rose at the crack of dawn to apologize to the General. But later in the day, Cartwright and Jackson met each other on the street. Reaching out his hand, General Jackson said, "Cartwright, you are a man after my own heart. I am surprised at Mr. Mac, to think I would be offended at you. No, sir; I told him I highly approved of your independence. A minister of Jesus Christ ought to love everybody and fear no mortal man. I told Mr. Mac that if I had a few thousand such independent, fearless officers as you are, and a well-drilled army, I could take old England." A fear of God will inspire you to share the Gospel and lose your fear of men. These two verses about the soul of man are some of the greatest verses in the Bible to show the importance of salvation. Mark 8:36-37 stresses the incomparable value of the soul, worth more than the whole world. If one should forfeit his soul and die, there is nothing with which he could hope to reclaim it. The loss would be irrevocable. The story of a rich farmer is recorded in the Bible. He had a very good year. His crops produced well. So well that he did not have room for them. So he decided to build bigger buildings to hold his crops and then he decided to celebrate his earthly success by drinking up a storm and engaging in merry-making. Jesus called the man a "fool" because he thought of profit only in terms of earthly things and fleshly pleasure, and did not value things spiritually. Rather suddenly on the night of his celebration he died and in death revealed he had made no profit in the matter of spiritual things. Jesus put the matter in financial terms. Paraphrasing, Jesus essentially said, “For what profit is it if a man shall become the richest man in the world, but lose his own soul?” If it were possible for one man to own the entire world, what would be his gain in losing his soul? The devil had, in effect, offered Jesus the same ‘bargain’ in offering Him all the kingdoms of this world on the mount of temptation. Only a foolish person would sell his soul to the devil for the gain he can give. Nevertheless, men do it all the time. Many are giving up far more to gain far less! As missionary C. T. Studd wrote, “Only one life, ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.” So don’t let the pleasures this world has to offer replace the true meaning of life. It all boils down to this: for which world are we living? No one has ever possessed all the world, although many people have tried. Nimrod tried to possess it. Nebuchadnezzar tried. Napoleon tried. All failed. The Antichrist will try to gain the whole world, and will indeed rule a global empire for a few short, shaky years. But then his rickety empire will fall apart under the judgment of God, and he himself, laden down with sins, will be plunged headlong into a lost eternity. No man can gain the whole world. But what if he could? All the pleasure, wealth, power, and fame are nothing compared with his soul. Everything fades and passes away. In reality, a person possesses something, but only for a short time. A man may choose money and property instead of helping to meet the needs of the world. But money and property can be held only for a short time. A man may choose position and power instead of giving his life where it would do the most good, but position and power are held only for a short time. A woman may choose freedom and pleasure instead of home and family, but freedom and pleasure last only for a short time. A person may choose the world and comfort instead of God and His church, but the world and comfort do not satisfy, and they last only for a short time. No earthly gain will compensate for a lost soul. There is nothing in this world that can be exchanged for the soul because the soul is of more value than anything in the world. The price of the soul is so great that all the things of the world put together do not equal its value. There is not enough money in the world ten times over which can compensate for the loss of one’s eternal soul. To live for self and fortune while losing one’s soul is not only foolish, but fatal. The greatest danger known to man is the danger of losing one’s soul. This is the greatest loss ever to come upon a person. Many are bankrupt spiritually because they did not profit spiritually. In all their life, they paid no attention to the need of profiting spiritually. They did not take care of this business either by choice or by neglect. Profiting spiritually is the most important profiting of life. You will guarantee a profit when you receive Jesus as Saviour. PRAYER: Father, I thank You for sending Jesus, Who shed His blood on the cross, died in my place for my sins, and rose again the third day that I would have eternal life. Help me to share the Gospel message with others. 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 In Everything Give Thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18)
I Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 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. Upon 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. We should be thankful in everything, whether small or big. 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’t 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 for 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 Our Total Dependence on Almighty God (Revelation 19:6)
Revelation 19:6, “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the LORD God omnipotent reigneth.” When we're committed to carrying out God's will for our lives, we should expect to go through seasons of adversity. Our Father wants us to trust Him completely. God is omnipotent —He is all powerful. He is omniscient —He knows everything. He is omnipresent—He is able to be in many different places at the same time. Our Father is in complete control of every situation. Our Father is more than sufficient to bring each of His children through any problem we will face. We must not allow our problems to seem bigger than God. Too many of us magnify the problems in our lives when we should be exalting Almighty God and trusting completely in Him. Sometimes our Father allows our problems to get to the point where we must turn to Him. He wants each of His children to trust totally in Him. Whenever a situation looks hopeless, we should draw nigh unto the Lord and call upon Him. Psalm 91:2, “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Many times, we will be faced with problems that seem to be absolutely impossible to solve. When every door seems to be closed and there doesn't seem to be any way out, we must realize that God can bring us through if we keep our faith in Him and refuse to give up. Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” God's ways are much higher than our ways. We must not limit Him. We don't have to fight every battle by ourselves. He is with us every hour of every day. He wants to help us. II Chronicles 32:8, “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” Too many of us want to give up because we're trying to fight battles our Father doesn't want us to fight. Many times we do our best to solve a problem, but nothing we do seems to work. We must not give up. We should persevere because we trust God to fight for us. II Chronicles 20:15, “And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.” PRAYER: Father, I can't see any way out of this problem. However, I know You can see many solutions to this problem. I trust completely in You. I know You will bring me safely through. I will not give up because my faith in You is strong and unwavering. As You see me through this trail, may You allow others to see You deliver me that they may learn 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 Joy-FULL (I John 1:4)
I John 1:4, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” John wants his readers to know joy. When you experience meaningful, intimate fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, you will experience true joy that is not dependent on your circumstances and that is not found anywhere else. True joy surpasses external circumstances. It is stability on the inside in spite of what is occurring on the outside. Joy means an inner gladness, a deep seated pleasure. It is the depth of assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful heart. Those who love Jesus, know Jesus, and live for Jesus will have joy in life. When asked about their faith, only 3% of Americans mentioned enjoyment of their relationship with God as their greatest source of spiritual fulfillment. John G. Mitchell wrote, “The enjoyment of spiritual life can come only as we walk in fellowship with God. A Spirit filled life is the enjoyment of divine life; it is that life of fellowship. There is no higher experience for a believer, either on earth or in heaven, than the experience of personal, intimate fellowship with the living, sovereign, eternal God.” Warren Wiersbe said, “Joy is not something that we manufacture for ourselves; joy is a wonderful by-product of our fellowship with God.” Lehman Strauss said, “There can be no real joy until the partnership with God and His Son and His children has been established. When our fellowship is what it ought to be, the attainment of the fullness of joy will result.” Charles Simeon said, “There are but two lessons for the Christian to learn: the one is, to enjoy God in everything; the other is, to enjoy everything in God.” Somewhere along the way we have missed it. We equate joy with happiness and happiness with joy. When you are happy you do have joy, no doubt, but you can have joy and still not be happy. We can be unhappy about our circumstances from without and still be filled with joy from within. People that are suffering persecution, illness, sickness, or the loss of a loved one can still have the joy of the Lord. It is during these times that people may not be outwardly happy, but Jesus can give them inward joy. Dr. R.A. Torrey and his wife went through a time of great heartache when their 12 year old daughter was accidentally killed. The funeral was held on a gloomy, miserable, rainy day. They stood around the grave and watched as the body of their little girl was put away. As they turned away, Mrs. Torrey said, ‘I’m so glad that Elizabeth is with the Lord and not in that box.’ But, even knowing this to be true, their hearts were broken. Dr. Torrey said that the next day, as he was walking down the street, the whole thing broke anew—the loneliness of the years ahead without her presence, the heartbreak of an empty house, and all the other implications of her death. He was so burdened by this that he looked to the Lord for help. He said, ‘And just then, this fountain, the Holy Spirit that I had in my heart, broke forth with such power as I think I had never experienced before, and it was the most joyful moment I had ever known in my life! Oh, how wonderful is the joy of the Holy Ghost! It is an unspeakable glorious thing to have your joy not in things about you, not even in your most dearly loved friends, but to have you a fountain ever springing up, springing up, springing up, always springing up 365 days in every year, springing up under all circumstances unto everlasting life.” A little girl remarked about her principle that she believed he went to Heaven every night because he was so happy every day. The principle was told of this and he used a great metaphor about a Christian’s joy. He said, ‘Joy is the flag which is flown from the castle of the heart when the King is in residence there.” Jesus came that we may have that kind of joy. He wants our joy to be full, complete, not lacking in any way. The joy of the Lord is our strength. He is our source of joy, knowing Him and living for Him gives great joy to the heart. Jesus Christ is our source of joy and gives it abundantly to us. 1. Joy comes from God’s protection and trusting in Him. Psalm 5:11, “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” 2. Joy comes from the presence of the Lord in our lives. Psalm 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” 3. Joy comes from God’s salvation. Isaiah 12:3, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” 4. Joy comes from the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith…” 5. Joy comes from knowing that your name is written in Heaven. Luke 10:20, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” 6. Joy comes from the Word of God. John 15:11, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” 7. Joy comes from answered prayers. John 16:24, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” Questions to Consider:
PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I thank You for the Bible. Your Word helps me glorify You as I experience true joy and close fellowship with You. Help me to remove anything in my life anything that would hinder fellowship with You. Help me to never settle for occasional or distant fellowship, but a closer walk with You in obedience. May I make and spend time daily with You in Your Word and in prayer. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Morning Meditations (Psalm 5:1-3)
Psalm 5:1-3, “Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Isaac Newton, one of the greatest scientists who ever lived, gave this witness to his faith in God, "I can take my telescope and look millions and millions of miles into space; but I can lay my telescope aside, go into my room and shut the door, get down on my knees in earnest prayer, and I see more of heaven and get closer to God than I can when assisted by all the telescopes and material agencies on earth." Morning prayer is so significant that it is mentioned twice in this verse. Prayer in the morning recognizes God as the greatest priority of our lives. Before David met with anyone else, he first met with the Lord. Before he tended to any of the day’s affairs or business, he first sought the Lord in prayer. The first appointment on his daily calendar was with God. Prayer at the beginning of the day acknowledges God as the most important being in our lives. Morning prayer is important because it recognizes God as the greatest power in our lives. Every day, David’s first activity was to direct his voice to the Lord in prayer. 1. Pleading Prayer This psalm was in a dark hour in the life of David. This psalm was probably written in the days prior to Absalom’s rebellion. David began by pleading for God to hear his prayer. David’s prayer was passionate, an earnest cry to God. His prayer was not in the manner of a manicured Sunday morning prayer, but He was crying out to God passionately in his pain. God knows everything about us, so it’s absurd to try to hide our feelings from Him. 2. Personal Prayer David was Israel’s king; however, he knew the King of kings. He recognized that he depended on God, the true sovereign King over all. David was in a close personal relationship with God. He was not a stranger in God’s presence. It was God Himself. David would pray to no other god. Only “unto thee will I pray.” As long as he lived, he would direct his prayer to the God of heaven. Prayer should be a personal, intimate relationship between you and God. You must come before Him as your Lord and King. You cannot pray rightly unless you are submissive to do His will. You must know Him as your Lord and Saviour, who invites you to come into His presence through the blood of Jesus. 3. Persistent Prayer David mentions twice, “in the morning”, concerning prayer. David made his plea early in the morning; he did not delay. The idea is that David knew the importance of prayer. It is crucial that we begin our day in prayer. John Wesley accredited his long life and health to his consistent practice of beginning each morning with prayer, that began at 4 AM. Spurgeon said, “Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.” As each day began, David persistently prayed to God. That lesson remains to this day. We ought to begin the day with the Lord, and that involves spending time with Him in prayer in the morning. Prayer is the key that unlocks all the storehouses of God's infinite grace and power. All that God is, and all that God has, is at the disposal of prayer. - R. A. Torrey The more dangerous, difficult, and desperate the circumstances, the more urgent it is to begin each day seeking God’s intervention and watching expectantly for the Lord to answer. This elevated the whole spirit of his prayer: now he would wait in expectation that the Lord would work for him. This sets the tone for the rest of the psalm. Because of his strong determination to pursue a deeper relationship with God, David committed himself to continual prayer (Psalm 5:1-2; Deuteronomy 4:29). The fact that he prayed “in the morning” suggests that his life is centered around God and that he began the day by expressing his dependence on Him. Each morning is a time to renew our dedication to God (Psalm 55:16-17; 88:13; 119:147) by taking time to talk and listen to him and by feeding spiritually on His Word (Psalm 119:9-16). This type of relationship helps us “wait in expectation” for answers to our prayers. Even throughout the day, we should look for signs that God is at work in our lives. For most, unless we have a scheduled prayer time with God, we will fail in our plans to meet with Him each morning. This is not because we don’t have a desire, but due mostly to the busyness of our day. Don’t desert your daily prayer time, but work to cultivate a constant running conversation with God throughout your day. To ensure our prayers are answered, we must seek to get beyond the five or ten minutes in the morning, and make our conversation with God unceasingly. One of the greatest failures in the church today is the lack of prayer. Prayer is the world's greatest resource. There is nothing too hard for the Lord (Jeremiah 32:27)! PRAYER: Father in heaven, thank You for the precious times I have with You each morning. Thank You for letting me come as a child and place my needs before You in absolute trust that You listen even though You already know, and You answer according to Your perfect will. Continue to guide me into boldly trusting You in new ways in 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 Busy But Not Blessed (Luke 10:38-42)
Luke 10:38-42, “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Henry's short story called "The Gift of the Magi" is the story of a young couple named Della and Jim. They were a poor couple but they loved each other deeply. Each one had their own unique possession. Della's hair was her pride and joy. When she let her hair down it was like a robe on her back. Jim had a gold watch, which his father had given him. On the day before Christmas, Della had exactly $1.87 with which to buy Jim a present. She wanted to get him something he would really like, but she knew that she could not get much with a $1.87. She did the only thing she could do. She went and sold her hair for $20.00. With the money she bought a platinum chain for Jim's precious watch. Jim came home from work that night. When he saw Della's shorn head, he was left speechless. Slowly he handed her his gift. His gift was a set of expensive tortoise-shell combs with jeweled edges for her lovely hair. He had sold his gold watch to buy for her. Each had given all he or she had to give. We no longer find Martha at the feet of Jesus. She was cumbered with much serving. The word "cumbered" means "to be drawn away here and there, to be twisted or wrapped up, to be distracted, to be over-occupied." She was continually distracted and over-occupied. Martha's service to the Lord Jesus Christ became a distraction from spending time with Him because she lost her spiritual balance. Her work for the Lord pulled her away from the Lord of the work. The solution to our imbalance is not to stop serving the Lord, but to make sure we spend time with Him and have a good balance in our life. This is what Martha failed to do in this situation. In trying to be a blessing, she stopped being a blessing because of her griping. God's primary concern is not our activity or doing. He is more concerned about our being what He wants us to be. This is the reason why it is important to spend time with God and grow in faith and in the Word. Commitment starts in the heart. If God doesn't have our heart, He doesn't have us. Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. The Lord tells Martha that "one thing is needful." In other words, a simple, plain meal would have been fine, not a big elaborate one. He did want her to understand that because she was so upset she was not making time for what was most important. She was busy, but not blessed. Jesus simply wanted Martha to rearrange her priorities. Mary chose the good part that would not be taken away from her. Mary chose to sit down and listen to what the Lord had to say. She chose to nourish her life with spiritual food that could not be taken away from her. She hungered for the words of Christ. Looking in on this scene at Martha's home, we can tell what each sister's priorities were. Martha was concerned with preparing the meal and serving her guests. Mary, however, was more concerned with being in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The level of spirituality we are able to achieve in life is directly related to the time we are willing to spend in His presence. If everything in our lives takes precedence over being with the Lord, then we are in danger at the heart of our experience. Even being overly busy in His work, to the point where we have no time to spend at His feet, is a bad thing. Martha was worried over physical nourishment while Mary was more concerned with getting her soul fed. Mary had discovered “the one thing” - His presence. While Martha was busy doing for Jesus, Mary had chosen to be with Him. Martha was busy laboring, while Mary was busy listening. At some point, serving the Lord took the place of being with the Lord. Doing a duty does not equal intimacy. We all have our Martha’s within us, we tend to get so caught up in Martha that we lose sight of Mary. Her work for the Lord had pulled her away from her work of the Lord. This can happen to us as well. We too can get frustrated to the point where we feud, fuss, and fight. The solution to our imbalance is not to stop serving the Lord, but to make sure we are spending time with Him and have a good balance in our life. May we get to the place of service where we balance our service for Christ with our intimacy with Christ. This is what Martha failed to do in this situation. In trying to be a blessing, she stopped being a blessing because of her griping. In life, we have to have a proper balance and proper priorities. God wants us to learn to listen to Him, spend time with Him, and get His guidance in our lives. When He guides you, then do what He leads you to do. Spend time with the Lord and enjoy His presence. That is what Mary did. Without spending time with Christ, you may end up being busy, but not blessed. Questions to Consider: Is spending time with Jesus a priority? Have you stopped being a blessing to your family and friends because you gripe all the time? Points to Ponder: May we put our priorities on the presence of Jesus. One of the greatest privileges we can have in life is being in the presence of the Lord. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, help me to take the time to just come into Your presence and feed 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 Comfort One Another (I Thessalonians 4:18) – PART 1
I Thessalonians 4:18, “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” The comforting words mentioned in the passage of our text is that Christ will return and take us home to Heaven. In our world of trouble, sickness, and heartache, we should be a comfort to one another. Vance Havner: “No journey is complete that does not lead through some dark valleys. We can properly comfort others only with the comfort wherewith we ourselves have been comforted of God.” Vance Havner: “He who becomes a brother to the bruised, a doctor to the despairing, a comforter to the crushed may not actually say much. What he has to offer is often beyond the power of speech to convey. But the weary sense it and it is a balm of Gilead to the soul.” One reason a dog is such a comfort when you're downcast is that he doesn't ask to know why. Oswald Chambers: “Why does God bring thunderclouds and disasters when we want green pastures and still waters? Bit by bit we find, behind the clouds, the Father's feet; behind the lightning, an abiding day that has no night; behind the thunder, a still, small voice that comforts with a comfort that is unspeakable.” Joni Eareckson Tada: “You don't have to be alone in your hurt! Comfort is yours. Joy is an option. And it's all been made possible by your Saviour. He went without comfort so that you might have it. He postponed joy so that you might share in it. He willingly chose isolation so that you might never be alone in your hurt and sorrow.” We should look to give strength and support to those experiencing distress, difficulties, dangers, or infirmities. We can be a comfort by our presence, a kind deed, or a good word. II Corinthians 7:6, “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus…” Just as God “comforteth those that are cast down” so should we comfort others (II Corinthians 7:6). John Henry Jowett: “God doesn’t comfort us to make us comfortable, but to make us comforters”. We can receive comfort from: 1. The Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31) Acts 9:31, “Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.” 2. The Scriptures (Romans 15:4) Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” 3. God (II Corinthians 1:3) II Corinthians 1:3, “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; God is the God of all consolation and encouragement.” 4. Saints (II Corinthians 1:4) II Corinthians 1:4, “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” We are to "comfort" or exhort and encourage each other. Comfort means to call to one's side, to call to one's aid, to comfort and exhort. This word means to strengthen someone by our words. Paul is telling the church that what he has told them they are to tell others. As he has sought to comfort the Thessalonians with these words, the church should also comfort one another. He exhorts them to comfort themselves together by considering and rejoicing in all that they have in the Lord. Life is difficult, at best, but this is not all there is for the child of God. We are a people of hope. We have the assurance of our salvation based upon the finished work of Calvary and the empty tomb. We can take comfort even in the most difficult of times. Paul says we should comfort one another because of all that we know about the coming of the Lord. The reason many are falling away and giving up on the Lord is because they have lost hope. I Corinthians 15:19-20, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” Paul gives two words to the church to continue to do. The believer is to minister by comforting and edifying others. God is the God of all consolation, comfort, and encouragement. Therefore, to be like God by encouraging one another, we must comfort one another, and build up one another. The ministry of encouragement should be a part of every believer's life. Jesus Himself loved the church so much that He gave Himself for it. May you and I love the churches members as an extension of the love of Christ for His church. As you enter a weekend of ministry in the local church, don’t be guilty of not noticing people. Look for people you can encourage and do it! The church should: 1) Comfort them that are down. 2) Encourage them that are discouraged. 3) Lift up those that have fallen. 4) Warn those that are faithless with the intent of seeing others live like Jesus can come today. Prayer, Lord God, thank You for enabling me to trust You with every occurrence in life, even those that feel beyond my ability to endure. Help me place my hope where Your Word tells me to place it, in You and Your promise of an abundant future with You forever. My hope is found in the promise that You are coming back for me! On those days when I struggle, it’s such an encouragement that this life is not all there is. Help me to be always ready for Your return. 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
September 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed