Lessons from Eagles for Soaring Saints (Isaiah 40:31) – PART 2
Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” 2. Sight of the Eagle An eagle has the best eyes of any animal alive. They are known for their keen eyesight. As humans, our eyes have 200,000 visual receptors per square centimeter. An eagle by comparison, has 1.6 million receptors per square centimeter. So what does that mean? If you and I had the eyesight of an eagle, it would mean we could read 3-inch letters on a billboard a mile away. We could see a rabbit 2-3 miles away and chart a course to catch it. With human sight, we would struggle to see a quarter at 35 yards. With the eyes of an eagle, we could spot a quarter at 200 yards. As Christians indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we have two sets of eyes operating in us. The first set is our normal, natural eye which we use to see the natural world in which we live. However, we also have a second set of eyes. They are the eyes of the Spirit of God. II Corinthians 4:18, “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Since we all who know Christ as Savior, have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us, we also have His eyes available to us to see life and situations from God's perspective. The eyes of the Holy Spirit give us guidance and direction. Our spiritual eyes help us to gain wisdom and discernment. They enable to know what is true and what is false, what is good and what is bad, what is wise and what is foolish. They help us to discern those who are wise and those who are foolish or wicked. These eyes enable us to see truths and insights in the Scriptures. In fact, the Bible strengthens our spiritual eyes. Our spiritual eyes direct our minds heavenward. They focus our attention upon the Lord Jesus Christ and help us to not become distracted by the cares of this world. Colossians 3:1-2, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” 3. Storms and the Eagle Eagles never run and hide as they see storms approaching. They have the ability to adjust their body out of joint, in order to ride the winds of the storm. As the winds blow, the eagle will spread her wings and let the winds push her up to great heights, gliding through the skies. As it does this, it rests its wings as the storm pushes it higher and higher. While the storm is raging, the eagle rises above it. It does not escape the storm. It uses the storm to lift it higher. God allows storms in our lives so we might soar closer to Him and rest in Him. Storms or trials can be used by God to develop our character, faith, and spiritual maturity if we respond the right way to them. They help us to learn to wait on the Lord and bring us to greater spiritual levels. Like the eagle, our spiritual eyes enable us to see in our storms or trials. They enable us to see life from God's point of view. The eagle likes to face the sun and fly towards it as if he thought he could reach it. For a long time, people wondered how they could face the sun without being made blind. But we know now that they have a covering for their eyes that keeps them from all harm from the strong light. As the eagle can fly directly into the sun to foil attackers, we too, can fly directly to the Son of God when we are under attack. Believers can come boldly unto the throne of grace in their time of need. As the eagle gets into trouble if his eyes dry up, we too, get into trouble when our eyes dry up and we lose our compassion and burden for others. II Corinthians 4:17-18, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” James 1:3-4, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” I Peter 1:7, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ”. Just as the storm gives the eagle a larger view of the land and enables him to see more, your trials can give you a larger view and perspective about your life. When you are going through a storm, you tend to be more teachable, looking for answers and guidance. You also find out those who are close friends and those who are not. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, help me to have the wisdom to learn to trust You and wait for Your timing. Give me peace during my season of affliction. Lord, I choose to trust You and wait for You to act. Please give me rest and peace, 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
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Lessons from Eagles for Soaring Saints (Isaiah 40:31) – PART 1
Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” There are lessons to be learned while we wait on God that can't be learned at any other time. We need to learn to trust Him despite circumstances, or to be content with what we have or don't have in light of all that He promises. These lessons, when embraced, will work in us a deeper level of trust and a greater capacity for resting in God. So, while you wait for what you hope for, allow the Lord to accomplish the desire for which He hopes for you. In this portion of Isaiah, we will take a good look at the eagle. The lessons from this magnificent bird will help us and challenge us to spiritually soar for the Saviour. When we wait upon the Lord, we shall renew our strength. The word "renew" means "to change, to pass from one state to another, or to exchange." When we wait on God we exchange our weakness for His strength. What we cannot do, He can. What we cannot see, He can. When we are weak, with His strength, we become strong. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Isaiah told us that if we will wait upon the Lord, we will mount up with wings as eagles. What is he talking about here? We want to take a look at the eagle and learn lessons from this bird that will help us to grow in our faith and walk closer to the Lord. Eagles are wonderful birds. In fact, they are mentioned 34 times in the Bible. This is more than any other animal in the Word of God. From the earliest of times, eagles have been symbols of strength, bravery, courage, independence, and a symbol for the Lord. The traits and characteristics of the eagle provide insights for us about our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and how to spiritually soar. We will note first of all the strength of the eagle. 1. Strength of the Eagle The wings of the eagle are absolutely beautiful and graceful. When its wings are extended, they have a span of 7 to 71/2 feet. Eagles have about 7,000 feathers on their bodies averaging around 14 pounds. Pound for pound, the eagle is one of the strongest creatures in the animal kingdom, able to catch and carry salmon to small antelope. An eagle has enough strength in its claws to break the bones in a man's forearm by merely grasping it firmly. Eagles are extremely swift and one of the fastest animals on this planet. On a straight course, they can fly up to 50 miles per hour. When he is swooping down upon his prey, he can reach speeds over 100 miles per hour. Yet, at this speed, he can spread his wings and tail, causing an aerial skid and stop within twenty feet. They can fly at extreme heights, too. Airplane pilots have reported seeing eagles flying at 15,000 feet. The eagle's great strength reminds us that we should be strong. Paul told us in Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” PRAYER: Father in Heaven, help me to have the wisdom to learn to trust You and wait for Your timing. Give me peace during my season of affliction. Lord, I choose to trust You and wait for You to act. Please give me rest and peace, In Jesus name, Amen. Thank you for visiting the website and reading PART 1 of this devotion. Please revisit tomorrow for PART 2. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com LORD, Give Me Strength! (Isaiah 40:28-31)
If you have learned anything about life, you know that there are times where you can become weary. Times of weakness are very critical times for us because choices can be made that become damaging and destructive to our life. For example, when Elijah was weary, he became depressed and wanted to die. When David was spiritually weak, he committed adultery with Bathsheba. 1. Power of the Lord (Isaiah 40:28) Isaiah 40:28, “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.” We may get tired, but our Lord doesn't. This is what Isaiah stressed here. He focused on the power of God. a. The Lord’s power is seen in His Perpetuality. God is everlasting. He has no clock because He controls the time. With Him there is no beginning and there is no end. (Hebrews 7:3) b. The Lord's power is seen in His Perseverance. God never faints or grows weary. His sovereignty over the universe is no problem for Him. Listening to our prayers and watching over us is a breeze. He is on call and on duty 24 hours a day. He does not require a nap, a B12 shot, coffee, or energy drinks. What a comfort it is for us that we can cast all our cares upon Him (Psalm 55:22; I Peter 5:7). c. The Lord's power is seen in the fact that there are no Perimeters to His Perception. There is no searching of His wisdom or understanding. His IQ cannot be measured. He cannot be out-witted, out-foxed, or out-smarted. The roots of science, mathematics, history, biology, astronomy, anatomy, and chemistry are all found in God. He is the source of life. His wisdom enables us to solve our problems and difficulties. The depth of His wisdom cannot be found because it is infinite (Ephesians 3:18; Isaiah 55:8-9). 2. Provision of the Lord (Isaiah 40:29-30) Isaiah 40:29-30, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:” If we are not careful, we can read over these verses without thinking about what they are saying. When you ponder it, however, it says a whole lot. Because the Lord is powerful, He has power to give to us. Youth are full of energy. No one will question that. If we could bottle their energy, we could make a fortune. Young men get exhausted, stumble, stagger, and fall. There are no supermen. Those who are young are not always strong. We all get weary and faint. It is in those times of weakness, however, that we can find out the effects of God's power and strength. That's what Paul found out in his own life. The Lord allows times of weakness in our lives that we might depend upon Him. II Corinthians 12:10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” In spite of our weakness, we can find strength when we look to the Lord for it. He gives power to the faint, who have been overwhelmed by trouble and trials. He gives strength to those who are weakened by sickness, discouragement, depression, or physical exhaustion. God gives us strength when we are desperate for it. No matter what the cause, He can encourage, excite, and energize you to get back up on your feet and go forward for the Lord. Psalm 18:2, “The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalm 118:14, “The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation. Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” 3. Patiently Wait on the Lord (Isaiah 40:31) Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” The verse states that if we are weak and without strength, God urges us to wait upon Him. That can be very difficult, yet God urges us to do it. David talked often about “waiting on God.” Over and over again we read of David waiting on God. To wait on the LORD is to trust Him. Waiting on God is essential to trusting Him. David is pleading for God to lead him. He said he was waiting on God all day and desired that none that waited on God would be ashamed (Psalm 25:3). Psalm 25:3a, “Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed.” Psalm 27:14, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” Psalm 33:20, “Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.” Psalm 25:5, “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” The word "wait" means "to look eagerly for something or someone; to hope or expect." This word indicates persistence. The word “wait” in this Scripture pictures a Hebrew word used in the making of rope. To bind together; two separate things twisting around each other so they become one. As one moves, the other moves. As one is still, the other is still. The words "wait upon" carries the idea that when we wait upon the Lord, we are making the decision to bind together and abide in Him. All day, we should be in the habit of waiting on God. We should be looking eagerly for what God is going to do, how God is going to lead us, what God is going to teach us. When making rope, one must start with one strand of thread. As the process continues, every additional strand added causes its strength to increase. Every time you “wait upon the Lord” you add another thread of rope which increases your strength and allows you to manage daily duties. If you’ve ever asked the Lord for strength because you’ve felt like your hanging on by a thread, then turn to Him and hold onto these promises and your thread will feel more like a rope. Shortly after starting her perfume business, Estee Lauder realized she had to persuade a cosmetics buyer to place her products in many stores throughout the country. At 9 A.M., Lauder was in the offices of the American Merchandising Corporation, waiting to see Marie Weston, the cosmetics buyer. Since Lauder had no appointment, she was advised to come back another day. "I don't mind waiting," said Lauder. "I'll wait until she has a few free moments." Salespeople came and went. At lunchtime, the receptionist said Weston's schedule was so full that getting in to see her was impossible. Again, Lauder was told to come back later. "I'll wait a little longer," she persisted. Hours passed. At 5:15 P.M. Marie Weston came out of her office. She looked at Estee Lauder in disbelief, then admiration, and said, "Well, do come in. Such patience must be rewarded." Weston was so impressed with Lauder's cosmetics that she placed her products in her stores. The Estee Lauder name became famous in the world of cosmetics because she was persistent in waiting. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Writing Is On The Wall (Daniel 5:25-28)
Daniel 5:25-28, “And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” Most of us have either used or heard the expression “the writing is on the wall”. The expression “the writing is on the wall” is used whenever an inevitable result or imminent danger has become apparent. While many have used this saying, some have no idea where it comes from. It comes from the Book of Daniel, found in the Bible, God’s Word. Have you ever tried to tell someone that what they are doing is wrong? It is not easy, especially when it is someone in authority over you. Daniel interprets the writing on the wall. It was a message of impending doom. Daniel told the king the truth with boldness and courage. God was patient and longsuffering with this king, yet the king refused to worship the LORD. 1. MENE. Means "to number." God had tested the kingdom of Babylon and found it lacking. God had numbered the duration of the days of Belshazzar's kingdom and was about to bring it to an end. Belshazzar's number was up! At that very moment the Persians were entering the city. Babylon was finished, it was all done. a) The Decree was Prophetic: Though these intelligent men understood the words that were written, they were clueless on any spiritual application (I Corinthians 2:14). Without spiritual discernment, no one can properly apply the Word of God (Hebrews 5:14). The decree about the length of time the Babylonian Empire had already been determined by God. We see that the faithful prophet Jeremiah prophesized this event before it happened (Jeremiah 25:11-12). The accuracy of prophecy shows the divine and infallible nature of the Word of God. There is a day when the nation of America will expire as a world power. I hope it is not in my lifetime, but we have no guarantee of that. Every believer needs to be serious about serving God and doing it with all their heart. 2. TEKEL. Means "to weigh." The word "tekel" indicates the dearth or deficit of the king. The king had been evaluated by God, weighed in a balance, found wanting, and had come up short. That is to say, Belshazzar was seriously deficient according to God’s standards. b) The Determination was Piercing: God had weighed Belshazzar in the balances and examined him thoroughly. This examination found Belshazzar to be deficient in his moral character, depraved in his sensual living, and deplorable in his idolatrous practices. God knows everything and will evaluate every life with 100% accuracy (Proverbs 5:21). This king could not hide any of his sin from God and now he was fully exposed. We must remember, as Christians, that all of our works we have done since we have been saved will be evaluated (I Corinthians 3:13-14). 3. UPHARSIN. This is from a combination of two words. Means "to divide" and the word pharsin which means "the Persians." It indicates the division and destruction of Babylon. The kingdom was to be broken up, or divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Persia was represented in the image of Daniel 2 by the silver chest and arms. c) The Division was Powerful: The time of Babylon was done and now a new world power would rise up. This was all prophesized before it ever happened and it followed the dream that Daniel interpreted for Nebuchadnezzar perfectly in Daniel 2. This new power, with the help of God, successfully took down the kingdom that no one thought could be conquered. God can take down the proud no matter how strong they are in their military (Obadiah 3). The writing on the wall was the announcement that judgment day had come for Babylon. The mighty empire, which had conquered and ravaged peoples and nations, and had taken captive the Israelites in 586 BC, would now fall. God changes times and seasons, and he removes and sets up kings (Daniel 2:21). Near the end of Daniel 5, God was changing the times and shifting empires. Nebuchadnezzar once said of God that “none can stay his hand” (Daniel 4:35). And God’s hand had written on the banquet wall what would come for Babylon. What then did God mean when He told Belshazzar he had been "weighed in the balances, and art found wanting"? The answer is really very simple. Belshazzar had neglected the knowledge he had received. He knew about his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar's faith in Daniel's God following his years of living like an animal. Belshazzar rejected that truth and refused to believe in the one true God. God had weighed Belshazzar in the balances and examined him thoroughly. This examination found Belshazzar to be deficient in his moral character, depraved in his sensual living, and deplorable in his idolatrous practices. God knows everything and will evaluate every life with 100% accuracy (Proverbs 5:21). This king could not hide any of his sin from God and was fully exposed. We must remember, as Christians, that all of our works we have done since we have been saved will be evaluated (I Corinthians 3:13-14). The accuracy of prophecy shows the divine and infallible nature of the Word of God. Every believer needs to be serious about serving God and doing it with all their heart. All of us have been "weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." The apostle Paul made this point very clear in his letter to the Romans. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23). We've all missed the mark in terms of measuring up to God's perfect standard. The Lord Jesus Christ was the exception. Jesus is sinless (I Peter 2:22; I John 3:5; II Corinthians 5:21). He is the God-man. God is His heavenly Father and Mary His earthly mother. Being without sin, He became " The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. " (John 1:29). He sacrificed His life on the cross to pay for our sins and to provide eternal life to all who receive Him as personal Saviour (John 1:12; Romans 6:23). Prayer, Father in Heaven, thank You for being patient with me when I chose not to prioritize You. You put up with my mistakes while the whole time passionately seeing that I become more like Christ. Help me to be more patient and longsuffering 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 Up and At It for The Lord (Acts 8:30-31)
Acts 8:30-31, “And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.” John Heinz, who was born in 1844 to German immigrants in Pittsburg, PA, was an industrious teenager. He turned a business of selling horseradish grown in his mother's garden into the largest pickle and condiment manufacturing company in the world. In 1875, a national financial collapse drove the young company into bankruptcy. Despite the legal freedom bankruptcy gave him, Heinz regarded each of the company’s outstanding debts as a moral obligation and personally paid back every penny. H. J. Heinz built his company to be a people-oriented place. Heinz went on to found the H.J. Heinz Company with its 57 varieties and became a leading American businessman. A devout Christian, he was known for the generous treatment of his employees and his generosity to Christian causes. Throughout his life Heinz conducted his business and personal dealings with the same integrity that led him to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars he technically did not have to pay back. It is said that no fairer, franker man in business affairs ever lived. He helped promote the Pure Food and Drug Act in the U.S., which greatly enhanced the quality of processed foods. His epigram was that every successful business must be "run from the heart." His other memorable saying was: "Make all you can honestly, save all you can prudently, and give all you can wisely." One day, at an evangelistic service, the speaker challenged Heinz saying, "You are a believer but with all your energy why aren't you up and at it for the Lord?" The young businessman went home in anger. That night he couldn't sleep. At four o'clock in the morning he prayed that God would use him to lead others to Christ. Soon afterwards, at a meeting of bank presidents, Heinz turned to the man next to him and told him of his joy in knowing Jesus. His friend looked at him in surprise and said, "Because I knew you were a Christian, I've wondered many times why you never spoke to me about salvation." That man became the first of 267 people H. J. Heinz eventually led to Jesus Christ. In Acts 8, God directs Philip to a roadside encounter with an Ethiopian court official who stood reading from the book of Isaiah. Philip met him in the middle of a desert, not by coincidence. In the Scripture, we see that the Holy Spirit prompted Philip to “go over and join the chariot.” Philip ran to the man and found him reading from the book of Isaiah. The Ethiopian man expressed his desire to know more about what the Scripture was saying. As one reads through the chapter, it is clear that Philip seized the opportunity to explain the Scripture and proclaim the good news of the Gospel to the man. We see even further evidence that the man responded in faith to the Gospel because we see him pursuing baptism straight away. POINTS TO PONDER: When I am busy with my day, am I looking for “God ordained moments” to share the Gospel? Have I ever had an experience like the one just described? What did I do? QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER: People's hearts are ready to hear the good news about Jesus Christ if we only would share His joy with them. Today, give thanks that the Lord is your hope and ask for an opportunity to share Him with others. PRAYER: Father, thank You for Your wonderful gift of the Gospel. Help me to keep my eyes and ears open to Your leading to help share what has so impacted me. Give me the courage and the words to share with any person You direct me to meet. 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 The Importance of Growth (Psalm 119:17-24)
Many years ago, a little 12 year old boy who lived far out in the country had never, in all of his life, seen a circus. You can imagine his excitement when one day a poster went up at school announcing that on the next Saturday a traveling circus was coming to the nearby town. He ran home with the glad news and asked the question, "Daddy, can I go?" Although the family was poor, the father sensed how important this was to the lad. "If you do your Saturday chores ahead of time," he said, "I'll see to it that you have the money to go." Come Saturday morning, the chores were done and the little boy stood by the breakfast table dressed in his best. His father reached down into the pocket of his overalls and pulled out a dollar bill, the most money the little boy had possessed at one time in all his life. The father cautioned him to be careful and then sent him on his way to town. The boy was so excited, he skipped all the way to town. As he neared the outskirts of town, he noticed people lining the streets, and he worked his way through the crowd until he could see what was happening. Lo and behold, what was approaching into town was the circus’ parade! The parade was the grandest thing this boy had ever seen – it was majestic! Caged animals snarled as they passed, bands beat their rhythms and sounded shining horns, midgets performed acrobatics while flags and ribbons swirled overhead. Finally, after everything had passed where he was standing, the traditional circus clown, with floppy shoes, baggy pants, and a brightly painted face, brought up the rear. As the clown passed by, the little boy reached into his pocket and took out that precious dollar bill. Handing the money to the clown, the boy turned around and went home. What had happened? The boy thought he had seen the circus when he had only seen the parade! The psalmist wanted a long life, and if the psalmist had a long life and lived, he would be able to honor God by keeping the Word for a long time. The danger of not knowing the Word of God is very great, so the psalmist prayed for God to not keep His Word from him. Those who reject the Word of God err greatly. In all their rejection of the Scripture, they show they are making a big mistake regarding the Word of God. The Bible is the greatest book ever given to mankind, but the proud reject that truth and so err greatly in their understanding about the Word of God. This portion of Psalm 119 addresses the issue of how to grow spiritually and avoid spiritual ruts and rot. It gives us principles or rudiments for ripening or growing spiritually in the Lord. As we continue to grow spiritually, we can maintain a sweet spirit in Christ and make our lives count for Him as we endeavor to serve and glorify our master, the Lord Jesus Christ, and others that are burdened and need our help. We know that salvation is just the beginning of all that God has for us. The wonders, excitement, and blessing of knowing Jesus Christ begin when we are saved, yet there is so much more to come. We have so much to look forward to. Unfortunately, many people get saved and are content only with their decision. They don't go any further in their walk with God and refuse to grow spiritually. They are like the little boy that was content with the parade and missed the circus. One of the troubling issues concerning many Christians today is their failure to grow spiritually. Many believers, after a number of years, tend to get into a rut and then they begin to spiritually rot. They become bored, bitter, and then a burden because they lose their focus of what they are supposed to be doing for the Lord Jesus Christ. We all have to make numerous decisions that determine the outcome of our lives. Some are minor, some are major; but they all are used to shape our lives. In the multifaceted world in which we live, we desperately need God’s wisdom for making sound decisions. Wisdom will not be attained if one neglects the Word of God. One should never wait until a crisis hits and then open the Bible up for some emergency guidance. God’s wisdom and direction comes from a thorough knowledge of His Word, gleaned over the years as a person walks closely with Him. Being born again doesn’t automatically make one knowledgeable in the Bible. We must apply ourselves with diligence and discipline in order to learn the Word. In the process we must be taught of God, of course. But we must also spend time and effort learning (Psalm 119:15-16, 18, 27, 33-34, 73, 78, 102, 108). With the busy lives we all lead, it takes discipline. We must make it a priority to learn the Word. When a believer ceases to grow in the Lord, often their compassion and a concern for Christ and souls are replaced with a critical, caustic, carnal spirit. Instead of being nice, they become numb, negative, and knocked out of effectiveness by sin, selfishness, and Satan. This not only happens to those in the pew, but it is possible to happen to the man that stands behind the pulpit, too. Five Scriptures Concerning Our Growth in Christ: 1. In Unity: Ephesians 4:3, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” 2. In Love: I Thessalonians 3:12, “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you.” 3. In the Word of God: I Peter 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” 4. In Godly Habits: II Peter 1:5-6, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness.” 5. In Grace and Knowledge: II Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Strength in Unity (Ephesians 4.1-3)
Ephesians 4.1-3, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Having told us what God expects of us, Paul now moves to tell us how to bring this to pass in our lives. He teaches us in these verses how to walk the worthy walk. He mentions “unity” in Ephesians 4:3, and again in Ephesians 4:13. The word means “agreement.” It simply means that we are to walk together as one in the Lord. Let me just pause here and say that unity is God’s goal for His church. If the Lord is that interested in unity is His church then we should be interested in it as well. The church has no greater testimony than when we are united in Jesus in spite of our differences. By the same rule, there is no greater slander against the cause of Christ than a church family in which the members are at odds with one another. God put in each of us a deep inner need for fellowship. The need for relationship is deeply rooted in all of us. According to Hebrews 10:24-25, Christian fellowship is designed to challenge us to unity and fellowship. God’s plan is that we will exhort one another and encourage one another. God, in His wisdom didn’t give us everything we needed to follow Him successfully. Instead He chose to give us one another. God fills in the gaps (the areas of need) in the church. Have you ever noticed when God adds someone to the church body, He places them in a position that fills the gap that was needed. Let me illustrate: In some ways, men are like redwood trees. Redwoods grow for millennia—some are two thousand years old. They reach as high as 350 feet. Yet their roots generally run only 6-10 feet below the surface. How do these top-heavy monsters stand the tests of storms and high winds? The reason they are able to is they grow close together (NO GAPS), and they literally intermingle their roots. In essence, they stand strong because they stand together. In today’s world, men often have an independent “go-it-alone” mentality. Yet, like redwoods, we will find it’s easier to stand strong when we “stand together”. Rooted in the Word of God does 4 Things. 1. Roots are unseen: Set aside time in privacy (underground). By doing this we immerse ourselves in God’s Word and grow in Him. 2. Roots are for taking in: Quiet time alone in God’s Word to feed upon it will ensure your spiritual growth. 3. Roots are for storage: As you daily study God’s Word, you’ll find a vast, deep reservoir of Divine hope and strength forming for the rough times ahead. 4. Roots are for support: A deep-rooted Bible study will help you to stand firm against the pressures of life. The routine care for your roots through exposure to God’s Word will cultivate you into a remarkable Christian of endurance. Questions to Consider: How is your fellowship in the Spirit today affecting the way you see and relate to other believers? What are you doing intentionally to maintain unity? points to ponder: Do something today to promote unity through your words, attitudes, and actions. God is watching how we treat each other and honors every time we engage in fellowship. Prayer, Father in Heaven, I am so thankful that You desired to have a personal relationship with me. I know that it was only possible through the shed blood of Your Son Jesus Christ. Reveal to me anything in me that disrupts or obstructs the unity that Your Spirit is going for in my church. I desire to have a deeper relationship with You. I understand that the closer I walk with You the stronger my relationship with You and with others will be, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Love That Knows No Measure (Ephesians 3:17-19)
Ephesians 3:18, “May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height.” The Bible is the greatest book ever written. Its message is so simple is can be summed up into a few verses, yet at the same time, it is a book of so much depth that one can study it extensively for a lifetime and never ever come close to fathoming all of its truths. Concerning God’s love there is nothing greater. You can dig all day in the dirt and find nothing. In the Bible, it does not matter where you dig, you will find riches. Let’s take out our spiritual shovel and dig deep into God’s precious Word. Paul prays that we may be able to comprehend Christ’s love. Comprehend means to grasp, or to take in. Paul wants us all to know and understand the breadth, length, depth and height of Christ’s love. How can finite man grasp the love of an infinite Christ? It is infinitely wide, long, deep, and high. Naturally, we will never be able to grasp Christ’s infinite love. Paul’s prayer is requesting that God’s infinity might fill man’s finiteness. We can never know the breadth, length, depth, and height of Christ’s love to the point of His understanding, but we can know it to the point of ours. This is seen in John 3:16. This love is so wide that it compasses all men, so long that it reaches the east to the west, so deep that it reaches the most wicked sinner, and so high that it lifts to God’s throne in history. He wants us to be able to know and get a hold of the love of Christ. The love that it took to leave Heaven, suffer for man the cruel persecution on the cross, and die for mankind. If even we could grab ahold of a little of the love of Jesus Christ, we could perhaps turn a home, church, or community around for the Lord. Paul wants us to grasp that which is beyond our ability to grasp. Christ gives love without holding back. It is our limitations that prevent us from fully experiencing that love. That is why we need to dig and search the Scriptures concerning His love that we may be able to discover more. Jesus Christ is love and the more we know Christ the more we know the love of Christ. Paul’s prayer for us is that we might know the breadth, length, depth, and height of God’s love. Many people in Paul’s place might have questioned God’s love. After all, Paul was in prison in Rome, accused of high treason and awaiting trial before Nero. He was longing to be set free—either by acquittal, which would free him to get back into the thick of things, on the cutting edge of danger, blazing new gospel trails in “the regions beyond” where lived untold millions still untold; or by death, to be welcomed home to his mansion on high. In the meantime, he would bathe in God’s limitless love. He prayed that all God’s people might do the same. He prayed that we might know the breadth of Gods love (how wide). There is nothing narrow about God’s love for people. Jesus loved the publicans and sinners. He loved the wayward prodigal and He loved his bitter older brother. He loved Judas as much as He loved John. He loved Pilate as much as Peter, Annas and Antipas as much as Andrew and Ananias. Such is God’s love. It is wonderfully wide. John tells us in John 3:16 that God loves the world. Paul prayed that we might know the length of Gods love (how long). How long does God love us? When, for instance, did God start loving us? Was it when we were saved? Was it when we first responded to the Holy Spirit’s call? Was it when we were born? Was it when He saw us “in Adam”? Was it when He made the world? Was it when He decided, before the foundation of the world, to act in creation and, subsequently, to act in redemption? No, He loved us long before that, His is an everlasting love, a love without a beginning, as eternal as He Himself is. Jeremiah 31:3 When will God stop loving us? Is it when we disobey Him, perhaps, or when we fall into sin? Is it if we keep on sinning? In that case, will He allow us to plead for forgiveness only seven times seventy times? Has He stopped loving the lost in the black eternal darkness of endless night? No! But for them it is His holiness that must rule in equal force with His love. Paul prayed, too, that we might know the depth of Gods love (how deep). How deep is that love? Well, Jesus stepped off the throne of the universe and came to earth. He came from glory to Galilee, from Galilee to Gethsemane, from Gethsemane to Gabbatha, from Gabbatha to Golgotha, and from Golgotha to the grave. That was a long way down. In the old days, when a sailing ship crept around the world, it had to keep close to the shore. A linesman would stand in the bow of the boat and cast a weighted line into the sea. He would report his findings on how deep or how shallow the water was beneath the keel. The best word was: “No bottom with this line:’ Such is the love of Christ: “No bottom!” All our sounding lines are far too short to measure the depths to which He was willing to go and the unfathomable depths of His love—for us. Finally, Paul prayed that God’s people might know the height of God’s love (how high). Jesus has now ascended on high and is seated in the highest heaven. His throne is high and lifted up. He reigns amidst scenes of splendor. Angel hosts bow down to Him. Bright, sinless beings rush to do His will. He basks in His Father’s love. Has He now forgotten us? Oh, no! He has seated us with Himself in the heavenlies. Such is His love. PRAYER: LORD, I thank You for loving me unconditionally. The more I read Your love letter, the Bible, the more I come to know You and understand how much You love me. I pray I never lose the desire to dig each day in Your Word and also, to share Your love letter, the Bible, 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 To Be Like Jesus (I Peter 2:21-24)
I Peter 2:21-24,"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." A Bible college student told his professor, "I want to be just like you." The wise professor said, "Ok, let's pray." The two bowed their heads and the professor continued, "Lord, I pray that you make both his parents really sick, and I pray that when he gets married, his wife will be sickly for the rest of her life. I want him to have all kinds of financial problems." The student turned to his professor and said, "I didn't want that." The professor answered, "You wanted to be like me." "Yes." "I am how I am today, because these things happened to me." This professor understood that God used each of these painful trials in his life so God would grow him. Had he not gone through the tough times, he would not be the man that he was. Like this professor, when you have gone through it, you will be able to look back and see how God used it for His purpose. In the school of suffering, we take on the virtues of our Teacher, the Lord Jesus, and a measure of Christ-likeness is manifested in us. God knows what is best for us, and often what is best hurts a lot. You may be going through a trial, and you have no idea why you are going through it. You may be wondering why you are even serving God. The heartache that goes with service may not seem worth it right now. However, let me assure you; God knows what He is doing. It is more than worth the tough times to serve God. The harder the test is the greater the blessing will be. Trust God in these times of trials because He knows what He is doing. The proof of Christianity is not a book but a life. The power of Christianity is not a creed but a Christian character, and wherever you see life that has been transformed by the grace of God, you see a witness to the resurrection of Jesus. God’s purpose and plan for our life is for us to be a reflection of His Son. Peter was an eyewitness to Jesus' life and sufferings upon the cross. He says three things about the death of Christ. Christ "suffered for us" (I Peter 2:21). That is, His death took the place of sinners. Christ "did no sin" (I Peter 2:22). That is, He was sinless; He lived a perfect and righteous life. Therefore, the sins He bore in death were not His sins but the sins of men. Christ "bore our sins in His own body" (I Peter 2:24). That is, the suffering Jesus bore was the penalty due sin. In the Old Testament, the words "bore our sins" mean to be answerable for sin; to endure its penalty; to die for sinners (Exodus 28:43; Leviticus 24:15-16; Isaiah 53:12). The death Jesus bore was substitution. He bore the sin debt due others. It is this act that shows the supreme love of God for man. As Christians, we are not under the law (Galatians 3:24-26). We do not need rules, regulations, threats of punishment, or promises of reward to inspire and rule our hearts. In order to live in this world for the glory of God, we must simply follow the example of the One who hung upon the cursed tree, bearing our sins. When I see Christ hanging upon the cross as my Substitute, I see that self-sacrifice is essential to honoring God (Luke 14:33). There is a battle for me to fight, a trial for me to endure, a service for me to perform, and a cross for me to bear. I cannot serve God without self-sacrifice and self-denial. When Christ was on the cross, bearing our sins, He set before us an example of willing obedience to our heavenly Father. Our Saviour willingly obeyed His Father’s will, even unto death (Isaiah 50:5-7). This is the way we must serve God. God will never accept any gift, any worship, or any service unless it comes from a willing heart (II Corinthians 8:12). The cross also shows us our Lord’s dedication and perseverance. He not only agreed to bear our sins and promised to die for us, He actually did it. Even before the world was created, God’s plan was for us to be, “conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). God did not save us solely to allow us to go to Heaven, though, of course, that is a wonderful and undeserved blessing. God also saved us so that we could go into the world just as Jesus did and point men and women to Him. God intends for us to be walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ as we go through this world. We have been called to take the name of Jesus and identify with Him even if that involves suffering for our faith. Jesus has given us the example to follow, and we are instructed to walk in His way. If we are to imitate the life of Jesus, then we must be led by Him. It is difficult to imitate your life after someone that you are never around or know nothing about. If we are to live for Jesus in a way that pleases Him, we must allow Him to guide our lives. We must allow Him to be the Shepherd of our souls and heed His voice. Jesus has made provision for us. He suffered all that He did so that we might live through Him. Our only hope is to keep our eyes upon Jesus and follow Him. God requires dedication and perseverance from all who follow Christ. Our Lord’s death upon the cross also sets before us an example of real love and patient submission to the will of God. Jesus set a high standard for living. Not one person has ever achieved His level of perfection, nor can we, but we must strive for that perfection daily. If the Lord has spoken to you about specific areas in your life, why not come and get those things settled before Him. The Lord is waiting to help you if you will only come to Him. Questions to Consider: Does your life reflect the life of Christ? Is He evident in your life for the world to see? Does your character, communication, conduct, and commitment follow the example that Jesus left? Wouldn't it be a shame to stand before the Lord and never have matured spiritually? Prayer: Father, I know Your desire is for me to be like You. You transform me every day. You want me to love what You love and hate what You hate. Many times, I have failed You. Thank You for Your constant love and forgiveness of me. May I never use the power of Your forgiveness to justify sinning, but may it draw me closer to You so that when temptation comes I may boldly proclaim, “I want to be like Jesus!” 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 God’s Responsibility Towards His Children (Matthew 6:25-34)
Matthew 6:25-34, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” According to biologist Cory Callaghan at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, there are likely between 50 billion and 430 billion birds on Earth. That is a large gap in numbers but consider the estimation of even 50 billion birds. This is a lot of birds that depend upon food every day to survive. Also consider the fact that birds consume far more food than they weigh. In general, birds eat approximately half to a quarter of their total body weight every single day. The smaller the bird, the more food it will eat because it doesn’t have a lot of extra fat to endure long periods without food. For example, a passerine bird can’t afford to spend more than 24 hours without any food. Birds eat so much because they have a very fast metabolism. These animals are constantly moving, flying, running, and using up body heat for day-to-day activities. They need to eat so much to power their bodies. Larger birds need large meals less often and smaller birds need small meals more often, Birds eat more in the winter than in the summer due to metabolic needs. They consume more than 100% of their body weight to keep their ultra-fast metabolism going since they burn a lot of calories. For instance, hummingbirds flap their wings 50 to 80 times a second! How much food do birds eat? As a rule of thumb, the smaller the bird, the more food it needs relative to its weight. Canada Geese eat lots of grass each day, partly because grass doesn’t have a lot of usable calories per pound. A 5-pound Canada Goose eats about a half-pound of grass per day (about 10 percent of its body weight). A chickadee may eat 35% of its weight in food each day. Eating something like 600 granola bars a day. A Cooper’s Hawk, a medium-sized bird that hunts other birds, eats around 12 percent of its weight per day. For a human weighing 150 pounds, that’s 18 pounds of food or about six extra-large pizzas. Hummingbirds are by far the hungriest of all birds. A hummingbird drinks about 100% of its body weight per day and eats as many as 2,000 tiny insects! That’s equivalent to you drinking 17 ½ gallons of milk and 300 hamburgers to survive each day. Consider the world’s richest person, Elon Musk, who has a net worth of 219 billion dollars. If he had the responsibility of feeding the birds, he would be bankrupt on the first day. Praise God. It is the LORD, who meets our needs and not man. The idea is “don’t worry”. Don’t worry about what are we going to eat. Don’t worry about what are we going to drink. Don’t worry about what are we going to wear. When we ponder that of all God's creatures, from insects to the great animals of the forest, it is man alone who is constantly anxious about his survival on the planet. Three times Christ made a firm statement condemning anxiety. Making the statement once is sufficient to instruct us not to be anxious and worrying, but having to say it three times says the concern is very great. Because of the harmful effects of worry, Jesus tells us not to worry about those needs that God promises to supply. Worry has the capacity to do several distressing factors. Here are a few: Worry may damage your health, cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts, disrupt your productivity, negatively affect the way you treat others, and reduce your ability to trust in God. How many ill effects of worry are you experiencing? Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern—worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action. Take your worry and turn it into prayer. Do you want to worry less? Then pray more! Whenever you start to worry, stop and pray. PRAYER: Lord, I know that You don’t want me to live in the clutches of anxiety; You want me to live life guarded by Your peace. Please flood and guard my heart with it. Remind me, Father, that peace is not the absence of problems in my life but the calm assurance that what You’re doing is best. You have never failed me, and You will never fail me—my confidence is in You. I pray this in Jesus’ name! 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
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