Forgive One Another (Ephesians 4:32)
Ephesians 4:32, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. “I’m truly sorry about that.” “Please accept my apologies.” While these statements are said with complete sincerity. They are inadequate substitutes for “Please forgive me.” Some Christians might not discern the difference between merely apologizing and asking for forgiveness. Here’s the distinction: When two people have experienced conflict, for one to say, “I’m sorry” only communicates that person’s remorse over what he has done. It focuses solely on the offender’s own feelings. By contrast, saying, “Forgive me” confesses that a wrong has been committed against another person and there is a desire to pursue reconciliation. In this case, the other person’s hurt is in focus. The difference may seem subtle, but it is significant. When Christians forgive, the one who forgives is promising that he will not continue to hold the offense against the other, either outwardly in his speech or actions or internally in his thoughts. While it is not easy for someone to ask for forgiveness, it is even harder still for someone to grant it. But the reason any believer should be willing and able to forgive is because of the forgiveness ha has received from God (Matthew 18:21-35). When it came to your salvation, God was willing to forgive your overwhelming debt owed to Him. Forgiveness means it’s over. The debt which is owed is cancelled. “Forgiveness means that you let go of the file of that person’s sin. You stop holding on to it. You stop holding it against them. It’s over.” The book’s cover image of a chalkboard that has been erased beautifully portrays this truth. When God calls on us to forgive, He is not calling on us to rip up the file of that person’s sin. He is asking us to let go of it and give it to Him to deal with. He is saying, “Pass it to Me. Leave it with Me. You can trust Me to deal with it.” We find it hard to do that. But actually, God is inviting us to walk in a pathway of great blessing. He is inviting us to give up carrying around the burden of that file, which pulls us down towards bitterness.” It all starts with one simple yet difficult choice: to forgive. When forgiving someone, keep in mind three things:
Points to Ponder: List the names of people from whom you need to seek forgiveness. Write out in detail exactly what you will say as you confess the wrongdoing and seek forgiveness from that person (Luke 15:18-19). Also, confess and repent of your sins to God. Questions to Consider: Whom do you need to forgive? Who has the Holy Spirit brought to mind as you read about forgiveness? Are there people who have asked for your forgiveness to whom you have not granted forgiveness? If so, what steps do you need to take to forgive them in a Biblical manner? From what specific obligation do you need to release him or her? Prayer, Father God, please reveal those I need to forgive. Shine the bright light of Your truth into the dark corners of my heart where I hide unforgiveness. I choose today to forgive. Because it’s something You commanded me, I know it’s possible. And because it’s something that pleases You, I beg You to help me. Please help me to forgive, deeply, from my heart, as You have forgiven me. Wherever possible, and as much as it depends on me, please heal my relationships. In the name of Jesus, who paid the highest price for my forgiveness, amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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Why Our Sin Is So Sinful (Romans 6:12-13)
Romans 6:12-13, Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. As believers, we should not let sin reign in our lives. Grace does not provide an excuse for sin but provides an encouragement to live a holy life. Sin brings a curse, not a blessing. Do not let sin rule and reign in your life. It will only curse you; it will not increase the work of grace. We are commanded to present our bodies as vehicles of righteousness unto God. Satan's promise to Adam and Eve in Eden was "they would be as gods." That was the hook to ensnare them, but that was not their end. What looked so rosy, ended up being extremely thorny. Satan always strives to make sin look attractive (Hebrews 11:25). The pleasures of sin are only for a season. The path of sin is down, not up. It is not free, but expensive. It will not liberate you. It will incarcerate and shackle you. No one ever sins and gets away with it. The Bible warns against those believing they can win the battle of sin. As long as one lives and chooses to live in the flesh they must expect to sin. In a View from the Zoo, Gary Richmond, a former zoo keeper, shared the following story about a pet raccoon. Raccoons go through a glandular change at about 24 months. After that they often attack their owners. Since a 30-pound raccoon can be equal to a 100-pound dog in a scrap, I felt compelled to mention the change coming about a pet raccoon owned by a young friend of mine, Julie. She listened politely as I explained the coming danger. I’ll never forget her answer. “It will be different for me.” And she smiled as she added, “Bandit wouldn’t hurt me. He just wouldn’t.” Three months later Julie underwent plastic surgery for facial lacerations sustained when her adult raccoon attacked her for no apparent reason. Bandit was released into the wild. Sin, too, often comes dressed in an adorable guise, and as we play with it, how easy it is to say, “It will be different for me.” Adam and Eve lost their innocence in Eden and gained fear. They realized they were naked, and hid from the Lord. Their intimacy with God was damaged. Their fellowship was broken. You maybe grappling with sinful habits that you are struggling to conquer. Jesus Christ can give you the power to conquer these addictions immediately. Without Christ, you are on a path that will eventually lead you to the pits of Hell. If you are a Christian and you choose to live a sinful life, it will not improve your character. It will not inspire you to love God. It will not influence you to be a good example. It will not impact you to be surrendered to the Lord. It will not impede your selfishness and greed. Thank God, because of what the Lord Jesus Christ did on the cross, your fellowship with the Him can be reconciled by putting your faith in Christ for your salvation. Romans 5:10, For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. II Corinthians 5:18, And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, what You say about my sin is true. Sin hurts me. It destroys my relationships with others, and it separates me from finding my blessings in You. Convict me of the sin that harms me and help me to turn from it. Help me to see the sinfulness of my sin so that I might enjoy the goodness and freedom of Your grace. 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 Serve Jesus? … Do It Now (John 9:4-5)
John 9:4-5, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. It was Joshua who said in Joshua 24:15, "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose, land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua's mind was made up to serve the Lord no matter what anyone else was going to do. Paul encouraged the church at Ephesus to be busy for the Lord, "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). The point is that we should make the most of every opportunity we have—even more because of the evil that infiltrates our culture. Do your best for God and work while there is still time. God used Adoniram Judson because of his commitment to serve the Lord and availability to Him. Adoniram Judson sweated out Burma's heat for 18 years without a furlough. He went six years without a convert. Enduring torture and imprisonment, he admitted that he never saw a ship sail without wanting to jump on board and go home. When his wife's health broke and he put her on a homebound vessel in the knowledge he would not see her for two full years, he confided to his diary: "If we could, I would find some quiet resting place on earth where we could spend the rest of our days in peace..." But then Judson steadied himself with this remarkable postscript: "Life is short. Millions of Burmese are perishing. I am almost the only person on earth who has attained their language to communicate salvation..." Judson was committed to serving the Lord. Perhaps, this is why we are still talking about him today over 170 years after his death. We are not only to serve the Lord, we are to be a spokesman for Him. It’s been said, "The best ability is availability." The best thing we can do is make ourselves available to God for His service, whether it is in our family, our neighborhood, our church, or on foreign soil. We should take advantage of every opportunity we have to minister, serve, and witness for the Lord. We are to make our life a mission for God, not an intermission. The time to serve the Lord is while we can, to live for Him today. Tomorrow may not come for you. Make yourself available to the Lord each day. May we all have Isaiah's attitude, "Here am I Lord, send me." I wonder how many of us trust God enough that when we hear Him simply call our name we can say, “Here am I…whatever You need, You have it…whatever You want, I will do it.” Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
Prayer: Father in Heaven, I don't know who or what will cross my path today, but help me to bring you glory today. Help me to be productive, patient, persistent, and perceptive. Help me to always work with diligence and may I make a lasting impact for Your kingdom. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Unstoppable Gospel (Acts 12:24)
Acts 12:24, But the word of God grew and multiplied. In the book of Acts, we read that the Word of God continued to grow and be multiplied, and then it mentions the return of Saul, Barnabas, and John Mark to Antioch. This sets the stage for the expansion of the Gospel among the Gentiles that comprises the rest of Acts. Herod and the Jews opposed God’s Saviour and came under His judgment. The apostles and early church suffered much, and many died violent deaths, but the Word of God continued to grow and be multiplied. God rewarded them abundantly and eternally in heaven. According to II Timothy 2:8-9, the Word of God is not bound. Regardless of the opposition, the Gospel is being spread across the world. We can always quit and give up when things get hard, or we can choose to persevere and accomplish what needs to be done. Successful disciples follow the example that Jesus set and carry on even in the face of criticism, opposition, and great difficulty. Jesus endured the hardships He faced, and if we trust Him, He will empower us to do the same. Jesus has overcome everything. Bring to mind all He has done for you. He saved you from sin and its eternal consequences, lived the greatest life worth imitating, and He guides and guards you. Remember Jesus is not limited or bound. He and His Word will accomplish all God intends for them to accomplish in you and through you. The Audaciousness of the Church (Acts 12:24-25) In spite of the killing of Stephen and James, plus a host of other persecutions of the church, the church did not die. The church continued to display its courage and compassion as it kept on glowing, growing, and going much to the dismay of evil. The words "grew and multiplied" mean that the church kept on growing and multiplying. The progress of God's Word could not be stopped. Men and governments might try to stop it, persecute, imprison, and kill those who proclaim God's Word; but their efforts to silence the Word will always be to no avail. God overrules all and always will. God has ordained His Word to be proclaimed, bear fruit, to grow and multiply and it shall be by all those who are truly His. 1. The Additions to the Church (Acts 12:24) In spite of the attacks on the church, it kept growing. 2. The Accomplishments of the Church (Acts 12:25) In spite of the opposition to the church, the church still accomplished this special mission. The church will always accomplish the objective for which God has set out for it regardless of the opposition. 3. The Advancing of the Church (Acts 12:25) In spite of the persecution of the church, it did not stop the providential preparation for the advancing of the church. Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. I want thank you for your faithfulness and continued support on this ministry as we endeavor to take the Gospel of Christ to the uttermost parts of the world. I’m truly grateful for your prayers, sharing our websites articles with others, and the financial support. My wife and I are blessed to be part of such a sweet church family. We sure miss our snowbirds. Can’t wait to have you all back with us. Pastor Torey Blackman. PRAYER: LORD, thank You for Your great love and the Gospel. Help me to do my part in Your Great Commission. I desire to reach others for You, help pave the way for those I will encounter. Continue to open doors at work, school, etc. Help me to never lose sight of the potential and the opportunities that You have given to me. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com This morning’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study. You can view this current study in its entirety by visiting Bible Study link below.
https://www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com/bible-study.html Hearing God’s Voice (John 10:27) John 10:27, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: Best friends since childhood, a wall-street investor and a farmer walking through Central Park were conversing. At one point the farmer said to his friend, “Did you hear that cricket?” His banker replied, “With all the noise in this park, how do you hear a cricket?” The farmer said, “You hear what you train yourself to hear.” To prove his point, he took a few coins from his pocket and threw them on the sidewalk. Everyone nearby immediately stopped and looked. If we are going to walk with God in the midst of a society that is set on going in the other direction, we must hear His voice. There will always be other voices calling out to distract us from our course, but our ears should be open and eager to hear what God has to say. Even for most Christians, talking to God comes much easier to us than listening to God. Therefore, we must learn to listen so that we can distinguish His voice over all the other voices and noises we hear. There is a difference between hearing and listening. We hear sounds around us from the television, to alerts on cell phones, to communicating with others in the midst of a crowd. There are many different truths that confirm to us that we have heard God's voice. And we know that if it was God's voice, then it will be God's will. So, God is the One responsible for making a way to fulfill His will. Where God's finger points, there His hand will make a way. God's voice will always align with His Word and His will. God will never go against His Word. He promises wisdom to those who ask and He promises to be found by those who seek Him. He wants to reward you for seeking Him also. Just remember that God is not in a rush; you are His for eternity so He is willing to go at an eternal pace. Many times, we make huge mistakes by trying to act on what we heard. Be still, slow down and rest at His feet. What God wills will be accomplished God's way and in God's time. If He said it, it will happen. God also works things out in His way. There is no set order to hearing His voice, receiving a verse, having His peace, hearing His confirmation and having the circumstances aligned. That's why we practice His presence and continue to diligently seek Him. Through an ear of hearing His voice, we learn how to discern God's will and His ways. God honors childlike faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word (Romans 10:17). God loves us. He has gone to great lengths to display His love for us. He wants to be a part of our lives. He wants to give us abundance in His fruits. He wants us to put into practice all that we know and all that we are to sense His presence and live a life that brings Him glory. PRAYER: Lord, I want Your will over mine. I also know that You know the desires of my heart. I pray that those desires are placed there from You. If these desires are not Your will, then please change my heart. 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 Spiritual FitBit (Psalm 37:23)
Psalm 37:23, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. The FitBit was launched to the market in 2008 and has done very well. The FitBit monitors your heart rate, counts calories burned, records distance, counts steps, and other features. What’s impressive is that it motivates people to actively work out and become a healthier person. And yes, we all want to be healthier. The Lord wants us to be healthier both physically and spiritually. How can we become more spiritually fit? Psalm 37:23, The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. The thought then is how the path of a good man is established by the Lord. The word ordered has the basic idea of being ‘prepared’ or ‘established.’ God will guide and direct our steps. Walking in the Spirit involves at least three key characteristics: direction, dependency, and dedication. These are necessary in our spiritual walk. 1. Direction – (Psalm 32:8) Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go. When we walk, we do so because we are headed somewhere. That is direction. 2. Dependency – (Proverbs 3:5-6) Proverbs 3:5-6, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding, and in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. When we walk, we put one foot in front of another, leaning all of our weight on one leg for each step. That is dependency. 3. Dedication - (Matthew 16:24) Matthew 16:24, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me". That is the way it should be for all of us if we want to live a victorious Christian life. When we walk, and are attempting to go somewhere, we take continuous steps. One step is not walking. Continuous steps are. You have to keep taking steps in order to get someplace. That is dedication. III John 4, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. God delights in the path of the righteous. Even as a parent delights in the steps of an obedient child, so does our Heavenly Father. In the Bible, God gives us specific instructions on what He wants us to do and where He wants us to go. Psalm 23:3b, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. The Holy Spirit will lead you in your daily walk with the Lord. Galatians 5:25, If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Obeying and following His leading will help you immensely in living a victorious Christian life. PRAYER, Father in Heaven, thank You that You can be counted on to guide me through my day. Today I need to walk in the hope that only You can give. My way is unclear, my path sometimes feels like it twists and turns in confusing and busy ways as I wind my way along my journey. Show me Your ways, Lord. Show me how You would walk in these places. Remind me by Your Holy Spirit to look to You to guide me. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 3 Crucial Keys Concerning Prayer (Philippians 4:6-7)
Philippians 4:6-7, Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 1. We Can Pray About Everything. We are to worry about nothing, but pray about everything. There are some very real assets that are ours in prayer. We hear these following statements all the time. We have even made them ourselves. “I'm not going to pray. I don't know how to pray, I don't know what to do.” The answer that God gives is, “Pray about it anyway. Even if you don't know how to pray. Even if you don't feel like praying about it, pray anyway.” 2. Prayer Brings Fellowship With God. Another reason that you should pray, even if you don't know how to word it, is that it brings fellowship with the Father. If you are praying the wrong way, God can take care of that, because He knows what is in your heart. We ought to spend time in prayer even if we are praying about things that may not have any immediate answer, and we know it as we pray. We ought to spend time in prayer because it’s an opportunity to be in fellowship with the Father. It is an opportunity to focus our thinking on Him, and to sense that bond between Himself and us that the Scripture abundantly tells us is there. There is something about just being with that loved one, regardless of what you may be talking about. Even if you talk the whole time, there is something that transcends the talk, and that is true of prayer too. Even if you don't know how to pray, even if you think God may say no to your prayer, spend time in prayer because of the fellowship with the Father. It reinforces our fellowship with God. 3. Prayer Brings Freedom From Fear. We have fellowship with the Father when we pray, but also if we pray about everything we have freedom from fear or worry. We have peace of mind and stability. That verse doesn't say that as you bring those things to God, God will automatically grant your request. It says, “The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, will keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The word keep there is a word that means “to guard our hearts and minds.” In other words, what this verse tells us is that we can and we should pray about anything that we worry about. If you ever wonder just how broad is the spectrum of prayer? It is as broad as the spectrum of worry. Some of us are bigger worriers than others, but all of us worry about all kinds of things. It is interesting that the same people that say, “I have got to worry about things,” will say, “I can't pray about everything.” Listen, if you can worry about it, you can pray about it. Not only do we have in prayer that fellowship with the Father that means so much, but we also have freedom from fear. We have freedom from anxiety, and the guarding of our hearts and minds as we pray about those things. Prayer, Lord, I humbly ask You to graciously grant me a heart that desires to pray. Forgive me, I’ve just been struggling with fear and doubt that has troubled the peace I have from You. I commit myself to prayer and I am casting these things Your way right now. I’m choosing not to worry about them anymore because You will deal with them under the authority of Jesus’ name, Amen If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com God Above You is Greater than any Enemy Against You (Isaiah 54:17) Isaiah 54:17, No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. God not only controls but He conquers. No enemy will overpower if God stops them. God's people can comfort and encourage themselves in knowing that God will conquer evil. Evil will not prevail though it looks difficult and invincible to man. The day is coming when no nation will attack Israel. There will not even be the threat of such (every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn). This will be the legacy of God’s people in that day. Their righteousness will be of God. · Pharaoh thought he had the nation of Israel trapped at the Red Sea, but God parted the waters for His people to cross in safety. When Pharaoh and his army crossed, they were drowned by the Lord. · Those who mocked Noah while he constructed the Ark drowned when the rain and flood finally came. They realized that God's warning was true, but it was too late. · Haman's plan to destroy the Jews backfired in his face. The gallows he prepared for Mordecai was the tool of his execution. The law that he convinced the king to sign was countered by another law that enabled the Jewish people to defend themselves and destroy their enemies. A destructive law spawned by an ungodly man who thought he was so smart ended up being an opportunity of deliverance. · The men that conspired against Daniel to put him to death by execution in the den of lions ended up being on the menu instead of Daniel after God miraculously closed the mouths of the lions. · Absalom conspired against his father David to destroy him and almost succeeded, but Absalom did not learn the importance of a haircut and the importance of ducking when riding under trees. Caught in the limbs of a tree, he was executed by Joab. · King Nebuchadnezzar was warned to repent of his sins. His arrogance, however, caused him to ignore those warnings and take glory for what God enabled him to do. God took away the king's sanity and he lived in the fields like a wild ox for seven years, before the Lord restored his mind and he gave God the glory due to Him. In great victory, God proved He is Lord to the Egyptians and to His own people who saw the great work of God. He saved His people. He removed His enemies. He improved the defense capabilities of His people with weapons. The Lord moved His people through an overwhelming obstacle. The Hebrews had confidence in God for they did not run in a panic, but walked across in faith. The Egyptians reaped their sown seeds. God avenged the blood of the firstborn Jewish babies who were drowned hundreds of years earlier. Egypt destroyed the helpless ones and now they become helpless, losing their defenses. The Lord will not allow the weapon formed against His servants to prosper. Sometimes this means the Lord takes the weapon out of the hand of the enemy. Sometimes it means that God allows the weapon to strike, but brings a greater good out of it than the pain of the immediate blow. In allowing this, God will not allow the weapon to prosper, but transforms the enemy’s sword into a trowel for building His kingdom. PRAYER: LORD, I come to You asking for power and protection. You know my enemies’ strategies and tactics. I know its because I’m a follower of Your Son Jesus that all these things are against me. I trust in 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 What To Do When Your Life Is Sinking (Matthew 14:24-29)
Storms can come suddenly, even at odd times. This one came when the disciples were in the midst of the sea. Trouble seems to come at the worst of times. There was no chance to prepare; the storm just showed up in the middle of nowhere. Storms will rock you. Storms will have you sitting at your table unable to eat. Storms will have you lying in your bed unable to sleep. Storms will have you sitting at a red light that's green. A storm will consume your life. We need Jesus in our storms. Then God shows up. The Bible says that Jesus went unto them. Any time a storm shows up in your life, Jesus will show up. He knows how much you can bear. The disciples saw Jesus in their time of trouble. I have discovered in life that sometimes you can be so drenched in your trouble that you can't see your triumph. You can be so caught up in your situations that you can't see your Saviour. Your can be so bogged down with your doubt that you can't focus on your deliverance. If you put doubt in front of the deliverer, you'll walk around with your head down from now on. Today, are you walking or sinking? If you’re going under, it’s because you’ve been looking at the waves (like an up and down economy). You’ve been listening to the howling wind (like the voices of doom and gloom rampant in our society). You have been taking your prompts from what others are saying or the way they are acting, instead of keeping your mind stayed on the Lord (Isaiah 26:3). Like Peter, the moment we take our eyes off of the Lord we sink. When our attention drifts, we lose our ability to hear His voice. The same wind and waves that jolt us into crying out to God one moment can distract us from Him in the next. Today is an opportunity not to sink into distraction, but to focus on the Lord and what He’s teaching you. To trust Him to handle life’s trials. This is what life should be for growing followers of Christ: looking to God for wisdom and responding with obedience, even in the face of what may seem impossible. All the while, keeping our eyes on Jesus. Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
Prayer, Lord God, You are sovereign, in control of everything. I confess I’ve allowed myself to be distracted, and I don’t want to be anymore. Give me the strength and self-control I need to fix my eyes on You so I can learn what You want me to learn and be who You want me to be. You are worthy of my full attention. Just as You didn’t let Peter sink, You won’t let me sink. Help me get my eyes off my circumstances and onto You. Please forgive me. I want to trust You. Thank You that You are the sure, steadfast anchor of my soul. Thank You that nothing is too hard for You. Let my life reflect the stability of knowing that You see and know and are at work on my behalf. 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 Tool Kit for Perfection (Ephesians 4:12-13)
Ephesians 4:12-13, For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Many of you have a tool bag in your house or car. It may contain a ratchet kit, screw drivers, a hammer, wrench, or chisel. The question is, "Why?" What is its purpose? Most of us would say, "I have one to fix, repair, or maintain what is broken or to install or build something that is needed or wanted." When we use tools to work on a project, we normally try to bring the project, the repairs, the installation to completion. The tools in the hand of the craftsmen bring about the changes that are sought. The car runs better, the door opens smoother, the bicycle can be ridden, the tree house is a castle, and the kids can swing on the swing set. The tool kit comes in handy for a variety of problems and projects. God has a tool kit for your perfection. This means being spiritually mature and spiritually equipped. In Ephesians 4:12, the phrase "perfecting of the saints" refers to the believer being equipped, repaired, mended, or strengthened. In Ephesians 4:13, the phrase "perfect man" refers to one who is spiritually mature or complete. There is both unity and diversity in the body of Christ. Our diverse roles and abilities are for the purpose to enrich and bless the church. Paul shows us how the church, with all of its glorious diversity, functions in a healthy way. Imagine the Master Carpenter’s tools holding a conference. Each tool saw issues and errors in one another rather than seeing the potential in unity. One tool complained about Brother Hammer and said, “He is so disruptive to our work. He’s got to be heard. he’s too noisy”. Bro Hammer responded and said of Brother Screwdriver, “He is so confusing. You have to turn him around and around to get anything accomplished.” Brother Screwdriver responded and said of Brother Plane, “There’s no depth to his work. It’s always on the surface." Brother Plane responded and said of Brother Ruler, “He’s constantly measuring people as if he were the only one who’s right." Brother Ruler said of Brother Sandpaper, “He ought to leave too, because he’s so rough and abrasive. He’s always rubbing people the wrong way.” Brother Sandpaper said of Brother Saw, “Every time he works, he leaves a big mess on the floor. He can’t make his mind up if he wants to go forwards or backwards”. Brother Saw said of Brother Blade, “He has a very sharp and cutting personality.” Brother Blade said of Brother Level, “He always tends to blame others for being crooked and unbalanced.” Brother Blade said of Brother Clamp, “He is always so uptight and never seems to be relaxed.” Brother Clamp said of Brother Drill, “He comes along and sticks his long penetrating nose into other people's business.” In the midst of all this discussion, in walkEd the Carpenter of Nazareth. He arrived to start His day’s work. Putting on His apron, He went to the bench to make a pulpit from which to proclaim the Gospel. Every day He used all of His available tools. After the day’s work was done, when the pulpit was finished, the tools observed and understood that they were all workers together. I believe this is a good description of spiritual gifts in the body of Christ. Christ has followers from every corner of the globe, each with God-given spiritual abilities to accomplish His work. Only as each member yields to the Holy Spirit can God use our diverse gifts to accomplish His work in the world. I hope and pray you’re ready to work today. Prayer: Lord, teach me how to love others as Christ loves others. Keep me from doing anything out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Help me see the importance of humility of the heart, so that I will consider others before myself. Help me to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace in my home, my church, and my community. May I diligently seek after all those things that are well-pleasing in Your sight, so that I may live in unity one with the other. In Jesus name I pray. Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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