Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Spirit-Filled Worker.”
Spirit-Filled Worker Series – Lesson 4 The Value of Building a Work Ethic (Ecclesiastes 9:10) Ecclesiastes 9:10, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” In every endeavor of life, give it your all. We only have one life to live, therefore, whatever we do we should do with all our might because when we go to the grave, there will be no working, planning, or wisdom. Work in Genesis 2 came before the curse in Genesis 3. Work was never a curse but a necessary and important part of life and service to God. One way we do that is to work hard, be loyal, and do our best to complete each task. Each of us should be such a good employee that our employers or customers would never consider getting anyone to replace us. The Bible is full with examples of hard workers: David, the shepherd; Amos, the fig farmer; Paul, the tent-maker; Lydia, seller of purple; Jesus, the carpenter. At the end of the day, it’s a good thing to exhaust yourself in meaningful work. Maybe God is motivating you to launch forward in a work of faith for Him. And perhaps the current landscape of today has discouraged you. Remember, when great works of God are accomplished in difficult times, God gets the glory. God-given strength is to be used at every opportunity. Honest labor leads to self-respect. Enjoying life requires doing whatever we do with all our might because when we go to the grave, there will be no working, planning, or wisdom. We only have one life to live, so we should enjoy it. One way we do that is to work hard, be loyal, and to do work honestly. Whatever area of work or service the Lord sovereignly gives us in this life, we should use all of our abilities and capabilities to do the work to the best of our ability. Kingdom work is even more gratifying. Time, however, is of the essence. The hour will come when no man can work (John 9:4). Every opportunity to do good must be seized. While even in his eighties, John Wesley complained in his diary that he struggled with being tempted to stay in bed until 5:30 each morning. John Wesley was one of the most faithful and fruitful evangelists of all time. Wesley traveled more than 250,00 miles on horseback, preaching over 4,000 sermons. It was undisputable that Wesley knew the value of hard work. With all the hardships throughout his life, Wesley remained steadfast and diligently did what God had called him to do. Our ultimate purpose for life is that everything we do should be done to honor the Lord. Our earthly work is to be done as though we are laboring for Christ Himself (Ephesians 6:5-7; Colossians 3:23-24). Especially in our day, we should take advantage of every opportunity to reach people for the Lord. You may feel incapable, however, you may be the only person who can reach them for the Lord. Do your part in the Lord’s work and everything you can do to help your church grow and reach your community for Christ. Whatever work we do and whatever projects we undertake, we should do our very best, just as if we are doing it directly for the Lord. As a pastor, I am constantly studying. It seems that I am always thinking about a sermon, devotion, Bible Study, sermon series, Bible institute, an illustration, making an application, reading, studying, outlining, planning, writing, praying, and preparing. I take seriously my study of God's Word. Whether I’m preparing for five or fifty, I’m always determined to put my very best into my studies. I was once asked, “Why do you always study so much?” My response first was, “My love for the Lord, His Word, the ministry, and my church. But also, there is coming a day that I will read my last verse, write my last message, preach my last sermon, give my last invitation, share the Gospel with someone and extend my last plea. Therefore, I want to treat each opportunity I have for the Lord like it will be my last because the last time is coming!” Prayer, Lord, thank You for the work You’ve given me to do. Help me to see it as a commission straight from You. Remind me to work with all my heart as if I’m working directly for Jesus. Forgive me for fixating too much on how I feel about my job, whether it fulfills me and makes me happy. Instead help me to embrace the dignity of my work. I want to work hard in everything for Your glory. 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 Thank you for reading Lesson 4 of Spirit-Filled Worker Series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Lesson 5 of Spirit-Filled Worker Series.
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Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Spirit-Filled Worker.”
Spirit-Filled Worker Series – Lesson 3 Lessons from the Ant - Part 3 Proverbs 6:6-8, Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. In this lesson we go out of the classroom and to the ant hill. An insect is used for instruction. One of the smallest creatures teaches some of the biggest lessons. The teaching is not by words spoken but by ways shown. What is done speaks louder than what is said. God, our Creator, taught many kinds of creatures to care for plants and even trees. For example, the South American Bull’s Horn Acacia Tree is protected by the ant. The ant doesn’t need the tree for its survival, however, they do feed from portions of the tree but never eat too much from the tree to cause damage to the tree. The ants protect the tree by pruning off vines that come too close to the tree allowing plenty of growing room for the tree. These ants are aggressive enough to keep other harmful insects, and even birds, away from the tree. In one experiment entomologists removed the ants from a few of the trees. Ranging from three to twelve months, the trees died without the ant’s care and protection. Without the care and protection of the ants, animals ate all the leaves and surrounding plants overtook the trees. Without the presence of these ants the tree will not survive. Who taught these ants to care for the trees? You can’t get around this fascinating fact. Not evolution, but the Creator taught these ants to care for the tree. Solomon dealt with a critical issue of the importance of a solid work ethic. This is one of the most crucial qualities needed for success in life. Solomon uses the little ant to illustrate the value of hard work. The ant has the discipline and diligence to work without supervision (Proverbs 6:7). One ant does not wait for the other to start, nor does it depend on another ant to do the work of both. Many people lack the work ethic of the ant; that is, they do not take the initiative to work on their own. This is what it means to be slothful: a person who will work only if a supervisor is standing over him or her. The person lacks initiative, divine purpose, motivation. The person is lazy. The ant prepares for the future (Proverbs 6:8). The ant’s society is not structured like ours, where each has someone above him to whom he is responsible. Neither does the ant have calendars and clocks or knowledge of the seasons. Yet the ant is found busily gathering and storing at the right time. The ant works all summer to gather and store its food because it knows that winter is coming. The ant understands the discipline of saving for the time when food does not grow. If an ant recognizes the need to plan ahead and prepare for the future, how much more should human beings? Just as irresponsible as the lazy person is the person who works hard but lives only for the moment. Failing to plan for the future for any reason is most unwise. The ant’s success is seen in their: 1. Partnership. Ants help each other carry burdens; injured neighbors; rescue those buried (Galatians 6:2; Romans 15:1) Each ant has a job, but none are more important. We are all members of one body (I Corinthians 12:12-27). This thing isn’t about you or about me. It is all about Him! 2. Productivity. Each ant works toward a common goal. Thousands of ants may dwell in one ant colony, but every one of them pulls their own weight! You are important to God's work. He will use you according to your ability and, as you grow, your responsibility will grow (II Peter 3:18). God has especially gifted and equipped you for some type of work in the body of Christ. 3. Persistence. Ant’s work continually. Ants never quit and they never go on strike! Ants are impossible to stop when food is found. The ant is motivated by hunger! Sprinkle a little sugar on the countertop and leave it there. When one finds it, it will return to the colony and bring hundreds with it! We are moving under the power of the Spirit (Romans 8:31). In our pursuit of doing God’s will, nothing should ever be able to stop us. No obstacle or critic can stop us if we are in God's will. We, who have tasted and found that the Lord is good, need to go back into the colony of the world and tell the others about Him. After all, believers are merely one beggar telling other beggars where to find the Bread of life! Prayer: Lord, thank You for the work You’ve given me to do. Remind me to work with all my heart as if I’m working directly for the Lord Jesus Christ. Help me to embrace the dignity of my work. I want to work hard on everything for Your glory. 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 Thank you for reading Lesson 3 of Spirit-Filled Worker Series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Lesson 4 of Spirit-Filled Worker Series. Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Spirit-Filled Worker.”
Spirit-Filled Worker Series – Lesson 2 Lessons from the Ant - Part 2 Proverbs 6:6-8, “Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” The ant's entire life, which can range up to seven years, is spent working. The ant is the most industrious of all social insects. There are over 11,000 different species of ants. They live in colonies numbering from a few to over 20 million. There are approximately 1 quadrillion ants in the world (10,000,000,000,000,000). Ants are so numerous that scientists say that if all the ants in the Amazon rain forests were weighed, they would weigh four times more than all the other specials of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, living in that area, combined! There are a number of important elements in these verses about the ant. The lazy person is to consider the wisdom of this insect. Some are so lazy they won't even do this. The ant, without anyone telling him what to do, prepares for the future winters by gathering food in the summer. Solomon tells the lazy man to learn an important lesson from the ant in preparation. Preparation involves educating yourself, either by inquiring, getting counsel, or going to school. If you have a teachable spirit, you can learn something and better prepare yourself. It’s the ones that think they know it all who continually have problems. One does not have to have a degree to be wise. Some of the wisest people I know are those who are honest and hard workers and complete their tasks. Being fixed on a goal or purpose helps us to be steadfast and not to quit in the preparation process. The importance of being ready or prepared is a motivation to finish our preparation. When we are prepared, it gives us stability or confidence to do the task at hand. Proverbs 6:6-11 compares the lazy man and the busy ant. The ant never seems to be still. The ant displays its discipline, it never wastes a minute. Slothfulness or laziness will for sure lead to misfortune and ruin. Here we notice the ant and the sluggard. 1. We are to examine the "sluggard" to learn a lesson from the ant. In her "ways", the ant manifests industry and foresight. The ant is not forced to toil by ruthless rulers and cruel taskmasters to store up provisions. Yet the ant is busy throughout the summer, and especially during the harvest, gathering her "bread" (food) for the winter. The point here is that the natural impulse is to care for oneself, to exercise foresight in preparing for the future. Even the humble insects have that much sense. 2. We are encouraged to get up by daybreak. Sleeping into the waking hours of the day is seen as a serious error in character. The sluggard always pleads for a little more rest, a little more "folding of the hands." Apparently, the common attitude of rest was to lay on one's back with the hands folded upon the chest (Proverbs 6:9-10). There can be no escape from poverty for such a lazy person. Therefore, we are encouraged to rise up early and get to work. This describes a lazy person as one who: (1) Neglects tasks that he or she should do (Proverbs 6:9-10; Proverbs 22:13). (2) Does not finish what he or she started (Proverbs 12:27). (3) Follows the least difficult course of action, always taking the easy way (Proverbs 20:4). The Bible teaches the same message hundreds of years before Aesop’s fable of the Grasshopper and the Ant. Aesop describes how an ant passed by a grasshopper who was "chirping and singing to its heart's content." The grasshopper urged the ant to stop and talk. But the ant replied, "I am helping to lay up food for the winter and recommend you to do the same." The grasshopper, thinking he had "plenty of food” responded, "Why bother about winter?" But when winter came, the ant had enough food and could even help others. But the grasshopper "found itself dying of hunger." The moral to this story is to be wise and prepare for the future. The Bible urges us to learn from creatures like the ant, to look ahead. Not to waste opportunities, but to plan, to save, and to prepare. Spiritual laziness is even more tempting than physical laziness. God calls us to search for His purposes for us with great passion and enthusiasm (II Peter 1:10; II Corinthians 8:7; II Peter 1:5). Questions to Consider: Are you wasting opportunities in your life? Has God given you the ability to do something for Him but you are letting it waste away because of doubt in yourself or in God? Is there someone you need to speak to about the Lord but you have put it off?" Points to Ponder: Ask God to help you be a better planner, prepared for the future. And faithful with the time, talent, and treasure He has given you. Don't waste your opportunities! Do what the Lord wants you to do NOW! Prayer: Lord, give me wisdom that I might be prepared for the future. Open my eyes and help me to be a better steward of the resources You have given 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 Thank you for reading Lesson 2 of Spirit-Filled Worker Series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Lesson 3 of Spirit-Filled Worker Series. Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Spirit-Filled Worker.”
Spirit-Filled Worker Series – Lesson 1 Lessons from the Ant -Part 1 (Proverbs 30:24-25) Proverbs 30:24-25, “There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer...” We can look at the ant as an example of how we are to live. Ants enjoy working and when they work, they work hard. They have some amazing habits. They will spend hours clearing their surroundings of leaves and plants. They have houses, towns, public roads, etc. Regardless of how far they are wander from their home they never seem to get lost. Ants are industrious and are used to rebuke the sluggard (Proverbs 6:6) because of their industriousness. God called the ant exceeding wise because they gather and prepare their food in the harvest. Ants are located all over the world. Although the ant has no leader or supervisor, they nonetheless, are disciplined to provide their meat in the summer and gather their food in the harvest. Ants work tirelessly and store their food in the summer, when it is available. Ants rebuke all who let disadvantages and difficulties keep them from achieving in life. Ants are small creatures, but they have the wisdom to prepare for the future and to that degree are wise creatures. The Bible speaks of four creatures to illustrate the practical wisdom that leads to success in life and business. Large physical stature, strength, and resources are not required for great achievements. The small and weak can be successful when they exercise great diligence, savvy, and skill. God illustrates this principle through these four amazing creatures. Tiny, industrious ants are diligent in preparing for the future. Ants have the God-given foresight to survive and to prepare for winter by laying up food during the summer. God has given them the insight to take the long look and discipline to prepare for the future. What an illustration of wisdom! They plan ahead for times when they will have less food. It would be wise for us to be the same way. Just like the ant, the diligent person is self-motivated. He makes full use of his opportunities at hand and his time. We should not waste our time but work diligently at whatever task we are given. The Lord uses the animal kingdom to drive home the lessons of wisdom (Proverbs 1:17; 6:5-8). He selects some of the weakest, most insignificant and vulnerable creatures to show how they overcome their limitations and are thus lessons to us in wisdom, for they succeed where many of us fail. The secret to their strength is their unity in that the ants are a collective unit. They work together as one to accomplish what they are too small to do individually. If we wish to be successful in life, we, like the ant, must have foresight (plan ahead), be disciplined, unified (work with others), and work tirelessly to accomplish our tasks. Preparation is an important part of being able to handle the hardships that come in the future. Ants prepare for the hardships of the winter by their diligent work and saving for the winter months. In the same manner, making financial preparations will help you to manage future needs. This may involve saving, looking for bargains now, getting education or training to get a better job. It may also involve the purchase of an insurance policy to protect your family in the event of your death. Prepare yourself. So, you can be prepared. Learn from the ant. The Word of God rebukes the slothful for sleeping at harvest when they should be working (Proverbs 20:4, 13). This proverb serves as a wakeup call against the dangers of laziness. Socially, laziness is becoming progressively more acceptable. God’s Word teaches us that laziness ultimately leads to destruction. Their preparation should be a lesson to teach us that weakness is no excuse for laziness or procrastination. Everyone should make preparation for eternity by receiving Jesus Christ as their Saviour and living a life that is pleasing to Him. Be prepared, especially when it comes to the matter of your soul. If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Saviour and put your faith in Him to take you to Heaven when you die someday, you are not prepared for eternity. He is the only way to Heaven. Put your faith in Him today. Be prepared! Prayer: Lord, thank You for the opportunity to provide for my family. May my work ethic be just and diligent as I give myself to these responsibilities. At the end of the day, may I look back with joy and pleasure with the expectation of hearing You say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Thank you for reading Lesson 1 of Spirit-Filled Worker Series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Lesson 2 of Spirit-Filled Worker Series. Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #27 Subject One to Another (I Peter 5:5) PART 4 I Peter 5:5, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” A. The Importance of their Clothing (I Peter 5:5d) “…for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” Why are we to have this humble spirit? The answer is, "God resisteth the proud but gives grace to the humble." God delights to exalt the humble and to humble the exalted. The word “resisteth” means "to rage in battle against someone; to oppose or to resist; to set against, to stand against." When we think of greatness, we think of being served. When Jesus thought of greatness, He thought of being served. We choose whether or not we will put ourselves under one another. Peter says that God resisteth the proud. This word "proud" means "to show yourself above other people; to have a high estimate of yourself or your merits which causes you to despise others and treat them with contempt." Are there people that really act this way? Unfortunately, the answer is "Yes." If you want God's blessings, then do all that you can to guard against pride in your heart. Solomon knew the destructive effects of pride and repeatedly warned us against this vice. Proverbs 3:34, “Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.” Proverbs 8:13, “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy,” Proverbs 11:2, “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10, “Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” Proverbs 15:25, “The Lord's will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.” Proverbs 15:33, “The fear of the Lord's is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” Proverbs 16:5, “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 29:23, “A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” The person with a humble mind thinks not of his desires from others, but of his duties to them. In fact, the person with a humble mind doesn't think about recognition from others at all. They are not looking for it. In fact, God resists (literally opposes) the proud, but rather gives grace to the humble. The sense of grace in this context is of help and strength. Or, in other words, it conceivably conveys the idea of ‘blessing.’ In any event, God helps (blesses) the humble while being an adversary to the proud. Pride is never spoken of favorably in the Scripture. To the contrary. Here and elsewhere indicates that God is the enemy of the proud. Humility is vital if you are going to serve the Lord Jesus Christ because humility prepares a person to serve. When it is time to serve, then a person's humility is tested to see if it is genuine. If a person feels he is above others or is too important, he will struggle to do anything that is demeaning or difficult. He will find it difficult to stoop down in order to lift others up. The difficult demands of serving others require the durable clothes of humility. Why is submitting to your pastor and having a humble spirit so important? The answer is the spiritual leaders in your life can help you to grow in Christ and equip you to serve the Lord. They can help you to overcome faults or habits that will weaken or spiritually defeat you or hurt your testimony for Christ. To be teachable, you need to be submissive and have a humble spirit. As long as you think you know it all, you are going to have a difficult time growing in the Lord. It’s been said that those who have the most grace, the greatest gifts, and have the most usefulness are the most humble, and think the less of themselves. So those limbs and branches of trees which are most richly loaded with fruit bend downwards and hang lowest. Points to Ponder: 1. I believe Fellowship Baptist Church is a healthy church because we are a humble, serving church. 2. We should humble ourselves before others in the church because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 3. We are either a humble, serving church that God blesses or a prideful church that God fights against. 4. Those who humble themselves before God shall find unmerited favor. 5. This includes intimacy, strength, and empowerment to do God’s work. 6. I believe Fellowship Baptist Church puts on the garment of humility. 7. However, a prideful church is not consumed with the interest of God or others. 8. They are prideful, and therefore, God fights against them. Questions to Consider:
Thank you for reading PART 4 of Biblical Building Block #27 of this series. And the Series in its entirety. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #27 Subject One to Another (I Peter 5:5) PART 3 I Peter 5:5, Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” Two of the rarest sights are a young man who is humble and an old man who is content. Humility carries the idea of having a proper evaluation of ourselves in relationship to others, as well as having a proper evaluation of ourselves in relationship to God. All throughout the Bible, we are urged to have a spirit of humility. Romans 12:10, “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another.” Philippians 2:3, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Andrew Murray, said, “Humility is the perfect quietness of the heart. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me, to feel nothing done against me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me, and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door, and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in a deep sea of calmness, when all around and above is trouble. The humble person is not one who thinks meanly of himself, he simply does not think of himself at all.” Humility has always been a quality and characteristic of a child of God filled with the Spirit of God and submitted to the Son of God. Peter Marshall gave a picture of humility in this prayer: “Lord, when we are wrong, make us willing to change. When we are right, make us easy to live with.” Peter went on to say, “…and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” It is never humble to be hesitant where God has been clear. Now Peter deals with the number one thing that hinders submission—that is pride. Pride will ruin you. Remember! Pride is what turned a beautiful angel into the devil. There is no future in pride. The prideful man is dangerous because he has no fear of God. Of the things that God hates, a proud look is at the top of the list (Proverbs 6:17). Prideful people are hard to work with because they are not willing to listen and allow the Lord to lead them. Clothing is usually the first thing you notice when you see someone. Just as clothes cover the body, so the believer should be literally covered with humility. Humility is an attitude that puts others first. Submission is not a problem to one who is clothed in humility. A humble person will have no problem submitting to authority. Paul said in Philippians 2:3-4, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.” For example, on his way to a reception in his honor, Ulysses S. Grant got caught in a rainstorm. Grant shared his umbrella with a stranger going to the same reception. The stranger did not recognize the person offering the umbrella was Grant. Stranger said, "I have never seen Grant, but I have always thought that he was a very much, overrated man." Grant responded, "That's my view, also." Humility is seeing yourself as you truly are. This is the hard part for us because we like to perfume and decorate the image of ourselves. Perhaps one on the worst things social media allows is for the user to photoshop themselves. A person with humility does not pretend to be blind to his great abilities and gifts that God has given to him. Humility acknowledges those abilities, but gives God the glory for them and credits those people that have invested their lives into you and that have helped to develop those abilities. When the humble person is successful, they do not view themself above others or expect others to give them recognition. In 1853, J. Hudson Taylor arrived in Shangai as a 21 year old missionary. Twelve years later, he founded the China Inland Mission and became the first Protestant missionary to go into inland China. Taylor led the China Inland Mission for the next 40 years and at the time of his death in 1905, the mission had:
Humility is the first step to the following things: 1. The glory of the creature (Revelation 4:11; Luke 17:10). 2. Redemption (Philippians 2:5-8). 3. Riches and honor (Proverbs 15:33; 22:4; Matthew 5:3). 4. Fellowship (Isaiah 57:15; 66:2). 5. Soul rest (Matthew 11:29). 6. Personal salvation (Matthew 18:3; Luke 18) 7. Greatness (Matthew 20:26-27; Luke 22:26) 8. Exaltation (Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11) 9. Revelation (Matthew 11:25; Luke 10:21) 10. Unity (Ephesians 4:1-3; 5:21; I Peter 5:5) 11. Faith (Matthew 8:8; 15:28; John 4:50) 12. Victorious Christian living (Romans 12:10, 16; I Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:26; Philippians 2:1-4; Colossians 3:5-14; I John 4:20; I Timothy 1:15; Titus 2:11-14). Ten Examples of Humility: 1. Abraham (Genesis 18:27, 32) 2. Jacob (Genesis 32:10-11) 3. Moses (Exodus 4:10; Numbers 12) 4. David (II Samuel 7:18-19; I Chronicles 17:17) 5. Job (Job 42:4-6) 6. Isaiah (Isaiah 6:5) 7. The centurion (Matthew 8:8) 8. John the Baptist (John 3:30) 9. Jesus (Philippians 2) 10. Paul (Ephesians 3:8; I Timothy 1:15) Thank you for reading PART 3 of Biblical Building Block #27 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for PART 4 of Biblical Building Block #27 of this series. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #27 Subject One to Another (I Peter 5:5) PART 2 I Peter 5:5, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” I. The Clothing of the Saints (I Peter 5:5c-d) A. The Instruction about their Clothing “…and be clothed with humility…” The word “clothe” means “to attach a piece of clothing to oneself. A knot or band by which two things are tied or fastened together; to fasten or gird one's self”. It describes a kind of garment as well as the act of putting it on. In New Testament times, slaves fastened a white piece of cloth or apron over their clothing so that others would know that they were slaves. This word stood for the white scarf or apron of a slave which was fastened to the belt of the vest, or it referred to overalls which slaves wore to keep clean while working. This apron or these overalls distinguished those who were slaves from those who were freemen. The garment was a humbling one because it was the garment of a servant or slave. Peter challenges us to tie the cloth of humility onto ourselves in order to be identified as believers and servants of Christ. Being clothed with humility will help us on all occasions, to give up our own will and to follow another. We are to be clothed with humility. The word "clothed" is interesting. Let me illustrate. In Carrabelle, there are times you will drive down the streets or highway and you will see men working in blue suits picking up debris near the highway. The suits are worn by those who are prisoners or in jail who are working under police supervision. Most people know the meaning behind the jumpsuit. I am sure it is humiliating for some of these men to wear one of these in public as they pick up the garbage. This is the idea behind this word "clothed." So to be clothed with humility means we are to adorn our attitude or heart with the attitude of a servant to others. We are to be covered with it in spite of what others think. Humility was not an admired trait in the first-century pagan world. People saw it as a characteristic of weakness and cowardice, to be tolerated only in the involuntary submission of slaves. God, however, considered it as a trait of strength. Not only do healthy churches submit to their elders instead of snapping back at them or disobeying them, they also serve one another. Peter uses a very interesting word when he says “clothe yourselves.” It literally means “to tie something on oneself.” It is a word used of a cloth a servant would put on right before serving. No doubt, Peter was thinking of Christ right before he served and washed the disciple’s feet in John 13:4-5. The servant apron that believers must put on is that of “humility.” What is humility? What is the meaning of the word "humility?" There are many misconceptions about what it is and what it is not. Humility means "to have a humble opinion of yourself; to have a deep sense of your own littleness or an attitude of modesty; not rising far from the ground; an absence of selfish pride; the earnest ability to give God and others the credit for what is achieved or accomplished. Humble: (Webster’s) having or showing a consciousness of one’s shortcomings; modest; lowly; unpretentious. The word humility carries the idea of “lowliness of mind”. Scripturally, it means to think of oneself as lowly in view of God and others. Paul says something similar to this in Philippians 2:3-4. Humility considers others better than themselves. Christ left heaven and took the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7). The church must have this mind as well. When the church is clothed with the apron of humility, they will go about seeking how they may serve others and help them know Christ. It means to think about meeting another’s needs over our own. People clothed with humility say, “What are the needs of others and how can I help them?” One of the reasons most churches struggle with finding people to serve in children’s ministry, youth ministry, usher ministry or driving ministry is because most people are not clothed in the servant’s garment of humility. They are not saying, “How can I help the church?” Notice what Paul said about Timothy (Philippians 2:19-21). Timothy was clothed with the garment of humility and was consumed with the interests of others and of Christ. The ultimate picture of a humble servant is Christ. Even though He was God, He came to earth as a man taking the form of a servant. He served those who He was higher than. He humbled Himself, not only before God, but before men. This attitude must be in us as well (Philippians 2:5-11). Thank you for reading PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #27 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for PART 3 of Biblical Building Block #27 of this series. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #27 Subject One to Another (I Peter 5:5) PART 1 I Peter 5:5, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” In I Peter 5, Peter focused on the portrait of the pastor, the under-shepherd of the church. As he continued through this chapter, the focus shifted to the flock in the church. These people to whom Peter was writing must have had a problem with submission. Peter had already admonished them to submit to government (I Peter 2:13-14), to their employers (I Peter 2:18), wives to their husbands (I Peter 3:1) and now church members to their Pastors. As the pastor is to be in submission to the will of God in his life, so are those who are under his authority. As the under-shepherd submits to the Chief Shepherd, so the flock should submit to their pastor or shepherd. Those who are young in age or young in spiritual maturity are to submit to the elder which is a term for "pastor." It also would refer to spiritual leaders or teachers in the church. For a church to function properly, there must be order. The pastor is the spiritual authority of the church who must answer to and is accountable to God. “Anything with no head is dead, and anything with two heads is a freak.” — Adrian Rogers. If everyone tries to be the leader or do their own thing, you are going to have chaos, division, fighting, fussing, and people politicking among the congregation to get their own way. What a mess! Nothing will get done and usually everyone is mad and miserable. It’s no wonder churches like this struggle and are not reaching people for Christ. I. The Call to the Saints (I Peter 5:5a-b) A. The Call is Specific (I Peter 5:5a) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.” Peter directs the younger to submit themselves unto the elder. This word submit means "to obey; to submit to one's control; to get under authority." This word submit is always used in the Bible of submission to a person who has a recognized office of authority such as a parent, an employer, or a government leader. There are two different groups in the opening verses of I Peter 5. There are the elders (I Peter 5:1), speaking of the Pastors of the local churches, and there are the younger (I Peter 5:5) of the congregation. The commandment here is for the congregation to submit to the leadership of their Pastor (I Thessalonians 5:12). I Thessalonians 5:12, “And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you…” B. The Call is to Submit (I Peter 5:5b) “Yea, all of you be subject one to another…” In other words, we all ought to give respect to everyone. This certainly is true of the pastor of the church. Hebrews 13:17, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” To be subject is to be subordinate or to be obedient to. The word “subject” is only found in the New Testament. The first time it is used, it refers to Jesus being subject unto Joseph and Mary. Jesus, by example, showed us the importance of being subordinate to others. God teaches us leadership in the school of servanthood. Those who refuse to be subject one to another will never be the leader God wants them to be. Our text makes it clear that the one thing that hinders being “subject one to another” is pride. 8 Commands to Christians (I Peter 5:5-9) 1. Let the younger submit to the elder (I Peter 5:5) 2. All submit to one another (I Peter 5:5) 3. Be clothed with humility (I Peter 5:5) 4. Humble yourselves to God (I Peter 5:6) 5. Cast all your care upon God (I Peter 5:7) 6. Be sober (I Peter 5:8) 7. Be vigilant (I Peter 5:8) 8. Resist Satan in the faith (I Peter 5:9) What are characteristics of a healthy church?
Thank you for reading PART 1 of Biblical Building Block #27 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #27 of this series. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #26 Minister One to Another (I Peter 4:10) PART 2 I Peter 4:10, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I. Our Stewardship (I Peter 4:10c) “...as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Peter tells the church what to do with their gifts and how to do it. The church is to minister the spiritual gifts to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Peter gives a word about the stewardship of every believer. Every believer is supplied by the Lord and is to be a servant of the Lord. As servants of the Lord we are to be good stewards of what He has blessed us with. We are called upon to be good stewards of the gifts God has blessed us with. Peter stated that we are to be good stewards or managers of that gift. We are to use it to be a blessing to other people. The word stewards refers to one who served as a house manager or one who governs a household; he had no wealth of his own, but distributed his master’s wealth according to his master’s will and direction. One who was placed in charge of the estate of another, both the household and possessions, a manager of the estate.” “It speaks of the responsibility of the proper use and disposition of something entrusted to one’s care.” Since a “good steward” means to be a house distributor or manager, whether it be money, possessions, spiritual gifts, position, health, or family, we should use what God has given us to minister to others. Every believer is a steward one way or the other. We have been entrusted with a particular portion of the estate. We have been given a unique gift and we are accountable to the Lord for that gift. As good stewards of God’s grace and gifts, we are to be using them according for God’s will and direction. F. B. Meyer wrote, “Let us never forget that we are not owners, but stewards who must render an account of our stewardship to the Master; and He may even now be at the door.” We are to be good stewards of the manifold grace of God. The word manifold has the sense of ‘diverse.’ Peter is telling the church that God has various types of gifts that will bless and build up the church. Every believer is equipped by the Lord to do the work of the Lord. There are all kinds of ministries that the church does by the Spirit of the Lord. God gives His saints the tools to build with and not toys to play with! We are to be good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Each Christian is important in the work of the Lord! All of us have been gifted by the Lord and we are to be active in the work of the Lord. Good stewards are those who administer their spiritual gifts wisely and use them obediently. Failing to use one’s gift only weakens the local church because other members cannot replace the unique gifts of those who refuse to serve. God has given each of us specific interests, abilities and talents that He expects us to put to use in serving Him and others. Because of how God created you, there are things that no one else in the world can do quite like you can. Though some of our gifts might seem less important than others, they are all significant to God because they provide ways to contribute to His purposes (I Corinthians 12:11-17). You must not keep your abilities to yourself. God wants to bless and encourage others through you. In a way, you do not just have a gift; you are a gift from God to others. God has planted seeds of ability in you, and it is your responsibility to depend on God to grow and develop your gifts so that others can benefit from the fruit God produces through you (Romans 12:4-8). In a sense, your God-given talents and abilities do not become fully developed gifts until you have given them back to Him by blessing and serving others. The mark of great or godly church is not the church with the most members, but the church that is serving to the most of their ability! Every Christian throughout church history has been exhorted to use their God-given gifts in service because Jesus is coming. The fact that the end of all things is at hand should help us focus and be faithful in our service for Jesus. We must not give up on serving Jesus! Questions to Consider: How much more could you be doing for Jesus if you were using your spiritual gift(s)? In what ways has the Lord prompted you to use your gifts for His glory? Points to Ponder: Don’t ever think that you are unusable and unimportant. The Lord Jesus loves you and died on the cross for you and He lives to save you and use you while you live on earth. Thank you for reading PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #26 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for Biblical Building Block #27 of this series. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Today’s devotion is an excerpt from a Bible Study Series taught at Fellowship Baptist Church, titled “Biblical Building Blocks for Strengthening Relationships.”
Biblical Building Block #26 Minister One to Another (I Peter 4:10) PART 1 I Peter 4:10, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” I. Our Supply (I Peter 4:10a) I Peter 4:10a, “As every man hath received the gift…” Every believer receives the gift to serve the Lord Jesus when they receive His salvation. When you are born again the Spirit of God takes up residence inside you and it is by the Spirit that God gifts us for His service. The word gift is from the Greek word charisma and it speaks of "a very special ability given to the believer of God." A spiritual gift is a talent or ability empowered by the Holy Spirit and able to be used in the ministry of the church. God wants His people to love one another and serve one another and He has made that possible by giving each believer at least one spiritual gift. Peter says that each one of them had received a gift. Peter is speaking of the abilities that God has given us to serve Him. Concerning the ability of spiritual gifts, every believer possesses at least one spiritual gift of God. Peter doesn't suggest “if” we have received a gift, he declares that every man has received the gift. Therefore, all Christians possess a gift of the Lord. Our gifts are varied, and they may even be multiple, but each of us possess at least one gift. Since God has given every saved person a gift, He expects us to use that gift for His glory. John Phillips wrote, “Every believer has access to the inexhaustible grace of God to enable him to develop and deploy his gift. We have no grounds to be proud of our spiritual gifts because God sovereignly bestows them, but we are responsible for what we do with our gifts.” No believer can say that they cannot serve the Lord or be of any use to the Lord. Every believer has received from the Lord His supply for His service. We are given the ability to serve Him. None of us are without some ability to serve the Lord. He has gifted us in unique ways to serve Him! Every man has received the gift from the Lord. We are not asked or expected to serve the Lord in and of our own ability. God has supplied every believer with the means to accomplish His will. God has given every believer a gift to be used for Him. We do not earn spiritual gifts, we do not deserve spiritual gifts, and we cannot purchase spiritual gifts. Every believer has received a spiritual gift and if we are not using our gifts in service for Jesus (we) the body of Christ does not function as it ought. When we refuse to serve or give up on serving, the body of Christ suffers and the work of God is hindered. Some think that they are only one and that being absent in service will not make a difference. One does matter! God gave each one a gift to be used for Him. Don’t ever think that somebody else will do what you could be and should be doing. God has gifted each one and we have received the gift. We have the mandate to serve Jesus and we have the means to serve Jesus. He has supplied us for His service. No believer is without a gift and some believers have more than one gift. The Church was not designed to spit and sputter its way through the world firing hit and miss on a few cylinders (Romans 12:4-8, I Corinthians 12:4-11). God's people were given gifts that the Church might operate at peak efficiency. That is the way God designed the Church to function. II. Our Service (I Peter 4:10b) I Peter 4:10b, “…even so minister the same one to another…” Everything we have, both physically and spiritually, is a gift from God. We are to use these gifts to minister to one another. This word "minister" means "to be a servant or attendant; to care for others; that is, to wait upon." Just as a hostess seats you at the restaurant and then serves you, so should we tend to one another. This is very plain and yet very profound. We are expected to use the gifts that God gives us. He has not gifted us with ability so that we might consider serving Him. He has gifted us in order to serve Him. With the gifts of God come the obligation to use those gifts. We are to put our ability into practice:
The Lord not only saved us. But He gifted us with the expectation of serving Him. We are given individual gifts for individual service. We need to be busy serving the Lord in the capacity He has enabled us. Matthew 25:14-15, “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” Spiritual "gifts" help God's people to not only serve and love one another, but also to continue the work of spreading the Gospel. When we humbly recognize our role in the body of Christ, our gifts can be used effectively. Only then can we also appreciate one another's gifts. One group is not greater than the other. God gives us various spiritual gifts so we can build up His church. Thank you for reading PART 1 of Biblical Building Block #26 of this series. Please visit this website tomorrow for PART 2 of Biblical Building Block #26 of this series. 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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