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Storms of Life Series – PART 6
The Proof of the Surviving (Mark 4:35; 4:41-5:1) Mark 4:35, “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.” Mark 5:1, “And they came over unto the other side of the sea,” Notice: The two verses. In Mark 4:35, Jesus told them in the beginning, just before the journey, He would lead them to the other side. In Mark 5:1, the Scripture proves He led them to the other side. His sleeping shows us that while we are here on this earth we can have peace with Him while sailing through the storms of life. When the apostle Paul talked about his leaving, his going home to be with God, he said, “The time for my departure is at hand” (II Timothy 4:6). It was a picture of pulling up anchor and launching onto the great sea of eternity. Consider Noah in that ark. The waves came and the storms beat against it, but he never fell out of the ark. You and I have security in Jesus. We have the promise that one of these days we are going to pass over to the other side. Our future is secure because we know Jesus as our personal Saviour. In New Testament times, the harbors of various cities would have a sand bar just outside the harbor. So if a boat got there when the tide was out, it couldn’t get into the harbor. They would just take the anchor and throw it over into the harbor. It really didn’t matter if the winds came and beat against the boat, because you see, they understood that when the tide came in, the ship would follow the anchor right on into the harbor. Apart from God, man has no hope for the future. As Paul put it, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (I Corinthians 15:19). People look for security and hope in fame and wealth and achievement but those are fleeting at best. There simply is no security in temporal things because they can vanish at any moment. Jesus Christ is an “anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus” (Hebrews 6:19-20). Jesus Christ is waiting in heaven and, if you are saved, you are going to heaven one of these days because the promise He made in John 14:1-3, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” The anchor is the guarantee that one of these days the ship is going on into the harbor. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, when I remember Your promises for my future, nothing can shake my confidence that Jesus is coming to take me home. 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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The Peace of the Saviour – PART 5 (Mark 4:38-41)
Jesus knew there was a storm coming. The wind obeys Him, but His children do not. This same Jesus is willing to come on board our little vessels, too. But we must receive Him as He is. He is not going to change, but He will change us. We all need Jesus in our lives because we never know in what moment we are going to find ourselves in the midst of a storm. Jesus was Sleeping (4:38). Here was God, the master of this universe, asleep in a little boat. Notice: This is the only occasion when we read of Jesus sleeping. The whole scene underlines His humanity. Suddenly, the storm was upon them because Satan had seen his opportunity. The Lord was asleep! He was vulnerable! All Satan had to do was sink that boat! The wind howled, the waves arose, and the boat was tempest tossed. Then the disciples thought of Jesus. Jesus is greater than either Satan or the storm. So He slept. And he arose, rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, “Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (4:39). Note the difference between what He said to the wind and what He said to the sea. He rebuked the wind because the wind was what stirred up the waves, but He spoke “peace” to the waves. He knew them all. He created them. One word from Him and they would do His will. Jesus was Sufficient. (4:39). “And he arose”. When the storm rose up (4:37), Jesus rose up. When a problem rises up in your life, Jesus will rise up. Safety is not the absence of the storm; it is the presence of Jesus. Have you ever had that experience? You were going under, and there came Jesus. I would rather be in a storm with Jesus than in calm anywhere else. Even when the world is crashing around us, we can have peace knowing that God is in control. He knows what we are going through and will be there with us through the midst of it all. Regardless of what we are facing, He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. His presence can give us hope, and we need to remember that whatever we face, He has allowed it in our lives. He has the power to calm the storm we are going through (Psalm 107:29). When we must face the trial, He provides rest in the shadow of His wings until our calamities are passed (Psalm 57:1). Don't be afraid when the winds howl and the storm beats alol around you. God is your shelter in the time of storm. His words: “Peace, be still.” The winds fell as if power was turned off and the blades ceased to spin. As a result, the sea turned into a mirror of glass. The disciples looked at Jesus and said, “What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (4:41). PRAYER: Lord, thank You for being ever present and for the peace You give in the midst of life’s turbulent tempests. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Storms of Life Series – Part 4
The Panic of the Sailors (Mark 4:38) Mark 4:38, “And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?” Several of the disciples were veteran boatsmen who had fished this lake for years. They had grown up on its banks, its shore had been their boyhood playground, and they knew its every curve and current. These men were skillful with oars and sails. Perhaps they thought that this was their jurisdiction; that Jesus could rest for a while and leave the sailing to them. Too often we do this. We feel as if we can handle life’s storms on our own. When this storm came, it came suddenly and hit them severely. Although some of the disciples were experienced fishermen, they weren’t prepared for this storm. This is one storm that brought the disciples fear to the point of panic. Next, we see that they had no hesitation. They woke him up. “Carest thou not that we perish?” they asked. Isn‘t it strange we wait until we’re in danger to talk to Him; to share our concerns with Him. But at least they knew where to turn. “Master, Master, don’t you care that we perish?” We read in I Peter 5:7 that Peter encourages us to put all of our trust in Him for He cares for us. It has been said that this is the most ridiculous question in the Bible. Imagine, the disciples questioning if Jesus cared for them. Have you ever said that to Jesus? “Lord, don’t you care? Aren’t you concerned? Don’t you know?” Perhaps you can identify with the disciples. They believed they were all going under and, of all things, Jesus was asleep. “Don’t just lie there, Jesus. Do something.” Mark 4:40, “And He said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? He had not said, “Let’s pass over to the other side.” Faith is taking Jesus at His Word. It’s not enough just to read your Bible; you must claim the promises of the Word of God and make them your own. You don’t have to be afraid when Jesus is on board. There is One who has power to calm the storms that come up in your life. Don’t you think for a second that a storm is a problem for the Lord Jesus Christ! We are in a daily routine, but when it seems things are about to get out of control, then we call upon the Lord for deliverance. The Lord asked His disciples why they had no faith—in Him. D. L. Moody once met a man who told him that he could not trust. Mr. Moody was very blunt with him. He said, “Young man, whom can’t you trust?” It is an insult to tell someone we cannot trust him. How much more serious it is to say that we cannot trust God. Why could you not trust Me—Me? He asked the same question of us all. “And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41). They now transferred their fear from the storm to the Saviour. If people knew the Almighty power of God, people would fear Him! PRAYER: I thank You that You are the God of the impossible. You can do anything. I have nothing to fear with You on my side. I want to trust in Your ability and not my own. Teach me to see difficulties in my life from Your perspective. Help me to focus on You and Your power. Help me to be strong and courageous even in the difficult times. I choose to have faith in Your ability to break through every obstacle in my life. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Storms of Life Series – Part 3
The Pressure of the Storm (Mark 4:37) Mark 4:37, “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.” The Bible says that the ship was now full of water. It looked as if it was going under any moment. Sometimes the storms of life can come so suddenly and can be so severe that the strongest of people are afraid they are going under, afraid they are not going to survive. This must have been a violent storm because some of these men were fishermen and used to storms at sea. The presence of Christ on board does not guarantee a smooth passage. On the contrary, the enemy will do his best to stir up a storm. It’s a wonderful thing when Jesus calms a storm at sea. But it’s also a wonderful thing when Jesus calms a storm in a human heart. So this particular miracle is an illustration of life. Here is a picture of life as a voyage on a sea, along with the storms that come up unexpectedly in your life and mine. Some of us could probably say, “Yes, that is exactly my situation today. I’m going through a storm. My life’s ship is being tossed to and fro by waves of adversity. I’m in a storm just like Jesus and the disciples were on the sea of Galilee.” Because of that, this passage of Scripture applies convincingly to your life and mine. Its lessons can be a blessing to us. The Lord sends storms in our lives to help us not hurt us. Here’s a storm of suffering. Here’s a hurricane of heartache. Here’s a tempest of turmoil. Here’s a squall of sorrow. Oh, the suffering that can come into a life. Do you sometimes say, “I get rid of one ailment and here comes another”? Sometimes storms of sorrow come into our lives. Remember, “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” Believers are not exempt from sickness, poverty, natural disasters, bereavement, death, and various ills of life. “And there arose a great storm of wind.” Are you in a storm today? A financial storm? A health storm? A relational storm? Whatever the storm you’re in, storms make us anxious. First of all, notice that this storm came up suddenly, as was common on the sea of Galilee. The sea of Galilee was located down between hills, in a kind of basin surrounded by hills. Through those hills were ravines, which made it possible for the wind to sweep down into the sea. From time to time, cold air would use those ravines like a funnel. Cold air sweeping down onto the sea of Galilee and hot air rising from the sea would collide and cause a violent storm. The storm would just fall out of the thunder clouds. It could be perfectly calm one moment and the next moment people would find themselves in a furious gale with waves threatening the stability of the ship. That’s the way life is, Things will be just as calm as they can be and then all of a sudden you are in an emergency, right in the midst of a storm. We never know what a twenty-four day is going to bring, do we? Twenty-four hours can change the course of a life. PRAYER: Lord, I know that trials are a part of life and that You allow me to go through them to make me better. During those times I resolve to lean upon You to trust You to carry me through, In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Storms of Life Series – Part 2
The Passage of the Ship (Mark 4:35-36) The journey of the ship is a picture of the journey of a believer’s life. Here in Mark, we have a picture of the believer’s life as one journey’s through the storms and stresses in life. This indicates the remarkable guidance of the Lord in directing His own through the trackless lanes of life and bringing them safely to the desired haven. They were all on the ship and they were all at the sea. In fact, you will notice in Mark 4:36 that other little ships were with him. We are all in this voyage together. There are other little ships besides ours. But there was something especially different about this particular ship: Jesus was on board. If a person will just get Jesus on board to their life as Lord and Saviour, it will make a critical difference. In our life, there are two important points to consider. 1. The Ships Direction (Mark 4:35). When Jesus is on board, a person can have a sense of direction. “Let us pass over unto the other side” (Mark 4:35). You could guarantee they were going to the other side. We are constantly on the move. We are all going places. We have a destination. The important question we must ask ourselves is, “Is Jesus the captain of the ship?” You and I need Christ to be the captain of our ship in life. It is possible for Him to be in the ship but not the captain of the vessel. Is Jesus the captain (MASTER) of your ship? Have you invited Him to take over the controls of your life? If you do, it gives you some direction. If you do not know Christ, or if Jesus is not the captain of your vessel of life, then there is no direction from the Lord. There is meaninglessness and futility in life. Without Jesus, life is like a ship tossed to and fro by the waves with no chart, no compass. 2. The Ships Destination (Mark 4:36). Many people do not know where they are going in life. They have no sense of purpose or reason for their existence. They may have that temporal sense of direction, but most people have no overall purpose in their lives. It’s a terrible thing to be adrift on life’s sea and not know why you are here, or what the meaning of life really is. There are three great questions in life: Who Am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going? We need to know the answers to these three. We need to know who we are. We need to know where we are going. Jesus’ words here gave a destination. When Jesus comes into your life, He comes in not only as your Saviour, but also as your security. The presence of Jesus is a guarantee that one of these days your life’s ship is going to land safely over on the shore of glory. That’s the only real security in life. You can have stocks and bonds. You can have houses and lands. You can have all the things that people consider security in this world. But if you do not have Jesus in your life, you have nothing that you can ultimately count on. You are either on one of two ships. If you have Jesus in your heart, then you are the ark, safe above the judgment. If you do not have Jesus in your heart, you’re on the Titanic, headed for destruction. PRAYER: Lord, Heavenly Father, thank You for Your guidance. Forgive me for getting ahead of Your plans, and help me know when to stop and listen for Your direction. Your ways are perfect. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Storms of Life (Mark 4:35-41) – Part 1
Mark 4:35-41, “And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” In this life, you are going to have some storms. We must note that the presence of Jesus on the boat did not keep the storm from coming. Just because we are saved and have Christ in our heart does not mean storms will not come into our life. These men had Jesus in the boat with them. Notice: Jesus was with them in the boat and the storm still came. Just because you’re saved and a child of God does not mean that storms will not come in your life. Your going to have storms even though Christ dwells within you. Remember, there is no storm that arises in your life that He cannot carry you through. There are different types of storm people encounter. The Bible says that our Father in heaven causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). “Into each life some rain must fall.” Therefore, anguish knocks at every heart and pain makes its way into every home. The good news is that if He is with you, He will take you through the storm to the other side. Storms may come quick without any notice, or at times, seem unexplainable. It’s a wonderful thing when Jesus calms a storm at sea. But it’s also a wonderful thing when Jesus calms a storm in a human heart. Here is a picture of life as a voyage on a sea, along with the storms that come up unexpectedly in your life and mine. Probably, some of us could say, “Yes, that is exactly my situation today. I’m going through a storm. My life’s ship is being tossed to and fro by waves of adversity. I’m in a storm just like Jesus and the disciples were on the sea of Galilee.” The journey of the ship is a picture of the journey of a believer’s life. Jesus Christ overcame the devil, diseases, death, demons, and disasters. At the end of Mark 4, we see a miracle where Jesus overcame the realm of nature. It illustrates to us that what Jesus is able to do in the physical realm, He is also able to do in the spiritual realm. If we are not careful, when storms come we will fear and doubt and miss out on the lessons the Lord is trying to teach us in the storm. “When Jesus says ‘pass over,’ you don’t need to fear going under!” A storm will never come into your life that is greater than God. Over the next several days, we will look at the following verses in the text and see what the Bible teaches us regarding the “storms of life”. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, life’s troubles are certainly tempests. We cannot expect to get through life without the winds of adversity. It’s easy to become overwhelmed and live confined by fear. However, Lord, You are my place of refuge and the shelter in the time of storm. In Jesus name, AMEN. If this post has blessed you in any way, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com God Leads Us Along (Isaiah 43:2)
Isaiah 43:2, “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” Robert Morrison was the first Protestant missionary to China sent out by the London Missionary Society in 1807. Arriving in Canton, he moved into a cellar and was rarely seen in public, pouring himself into a study of the language. He made such good progress that he was hired by the East India Company as an interpreter and spent the next 25 years thus employed. This arrangement allowed him the opportunity of translating the Bible, tracts, hymnbooks, and prayer books from English into Chinese. He prepared an Anglo-Chinese dictionary and a Chinese grammar book. During his lifetime, Morrison saw but three or four conversions, but his work paved the way for all the missionaries who followed. He found Isaiah 43:2 as a young man on a voyage from Newcastle to London. He was on his way to school and the seas were rough. Morrison suffered a bout of seasickness, but he nonetheless managed his daily intake of Scripture. He wrote to his father, “I was happily surprised, when lying sick in the state room, by hearing a number of persons sing psalms in the cabin; and every night when the weather would permit, we had prayers and reading of Scriptures. The passage was very rough, in some parts of it; one night they let the ship drive, and another night pitched away her bowsprit, which last occurrence was very serious, as it endangered the loss of our masts. I mention these circumstances to excite thankfulness to God, who brought us safely through. I pleaded the promise, in its literal sense, ‘When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee’, and blessed by God, it was fulfilled.” It was a promise he was to claim many times to come. In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet, God leads His dear children along; Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet, God leads His dear children along. Some through the waters, some through the flood, Some through the fire, but all through the blood; Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song, In the night season and all the day long. In Isaiah’s description, the waters symbolize a trial. Some trials can be likened to walking through a valley, while others can feel like facing a flash flood in that valley. The water level rises rapidly. Deep waters assail, currents swirling, and you may fear going under. God has not promised to keep our lives free from times of distress, but He has promised to be with us through them and to use them to bring about our ultimate sanctification. PRAYER: Father, I am Yours. I choose to believe this powerful truth. You are with me, so I will keep going. I hold onto You and Your Word. I will not avoid or escape my trial, but by faith and with You, I will go through it and come across on the other side. Please use the trials in my life for my good and for Your glory. 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 Noah (Genesis 6:5, 9, 11)
Genesis 6:5, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:9, “These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:11, “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” In the days of Noah, the human race had become so wicked. People were completely depraved in their sexual morality, and the earth was filled with violence. The people had abundant evidence of God’s goodness, however, they turned away from their knowledge of God and toward their own pleasures. God had had enough (Genesis 6:3-7). Only one man found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Noah was a righteous man who faithfully walked with God and was obedient to His instructions (Genesis 6:22). Because of his faith in God, he was justified. Though the world around him was absolutely corrupt, Noah was basically without blemish before God. Noah was a just man. He preached in a day when “the wickedness of man was great in the earth” (Genesis 6:5). The Scriptures reveal Noah being just, being perfect (entire or without blemish), and walking with God. The corruption and violence of man caused God to send a world-wide flood. However, in God’s mercy, He sent Noah, a preacher of righteousness, to warn and plead with the people for 120 years while the ark was being built. Noah must have stood out in the world in that day, building an ark when it had never rained. But what made him stand out more was his walk with God (Genesis 6:12). Noah was a man who walked with God and preached right living. Noah preached for 120 years, and apart from his family, he never had one convert (I Peter 3:20). However, the Bible calls him a man of faith (Hebrews 11:7). He was a preacher of righteousness (II Peter 2:5). His righteousness did not come by his own works, but through his faith in God’s Word. Though the people of that day were wicked, corrupt, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5, 11), Noah practiced righteousness. He preached against immorality and the sin of that day. He preached repentance for the ungodly men to turn back to God. He did that which was right as a principle and of habit. The preaching of a generation determines the morals of the next generation. God considered Noah one of the three most righteous men in history as recorded in Ezekiel 14. When tempted to lie, he told the truth. When tempted to steal, he was honest. When tempted with immorality, he determined to be pure. When tempted to lose his temper and curse, he held his tongue. When tempted to become bitter or jealous, he maintained a right spirit. When it seemed easier to not put the Lord first, he refused. When he recognized another in need, he sought to help him. When directed by God to begin a task no one else in human history had ever done, Noah took God at His Word and obeyed. In a world filled with mockers and skepticism, Noah had unwavering confidence in God’s Word. In that day, God planned to destroy the population of the wicked world. His plan was to send a world-wide flood upon the earth to such a degree that all would be drown. God called Noah to build an ark where his family and two of every species of animal of the earth would be saved. Every day Noah labored on the ark was a call to repentance and a declaration that judgment was coming. Just as those in the days of Noah ignored the warning and rejected the message that would save them, Jesus warned us of making the same mistake (Matthew 24:37-39). Noah believed God when He warned him of the impending judgment. Noah took God at His Word and simply did what God said to do. Though it took Noah 120 years to accomplish the construction of the ark, he persisted. Some take God at His Word and in due season are blessed of God (Proverbs 28:20; I Corinthians 15:58; Galatians 6:9). We are called to study His Word, to be faithful to the things of God, witness, walk in love, love one another. Today, God still has His faithful men who stand firm and preach and teach His Word (Titus 2:12). Noah went against the high tide of sin. Despite the mocking and ridicule Noah received, he kept on building the ark until he completed God’s plan. There were many rooms or compartments within the ark to hold room for the people of that day to escape judgment of God. Just as there was one door (Genesis 6:16), so there is only one way to God and that is Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Once the ark of the door was shut, it was too late to enter in. Until spared, he paid a dear price for it, and so must we as ambassadors for Jesus. Like Noah, our faithfulness to God’s Word will be contrary to everything the world stands for. But every time we see a rainbow, it reminds is for His faithfulness. No amount of righteousness on man’s part can gain eternal life (Titus 3:5). Righteousness after salvation is an act of obedience and desire to know God. Salvation does not excuse the responsibility to live righteously (Romans 6:15). Righteousness is conforming our hearts and lives to God’s divine law. Paul told Titus, “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:12). Points to Ponder:
Questions to Consider:
PRAYER: LORD, my desire is to please and honor You in my daily walk with You before others. I know that there is not one thing that I ever perform or ponder that is concealed from You. As You examine my heart, help me to live a life of holiness, honesty, and humility. I ask for strength, patience, and wisdom as I aim to practice Your Word. 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 Precious Things (I & II Peter)
Peter had ups and downs spiritually. There were mountain tops and valleys. Peter had lived long enough to know the importance of helping to encourage believers at various times in their life. Peter had faced many discouraging things in his life and he wanted to be a blessing to others. Peter not only wanted to inform other believers, but he had a Scriptural view and he wanted to inspire them as well. Peter understood that we all need encouragement and, at times, motivation to do what is right. Peter had a mature, godly perspective and he was seeking other believers to move forward in their life. God allowed him to pen down the Scriptures concerning “Precious Things”. Because of Jesus, God loves us, cares for us, accepts us, takes pleasure in us, and views us as precious to Him. God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. The word "precious" means of great honor and price; of great value and privilege. We must take notice of some things in the Scriptures that are said to be “precious” in the passages. When the Lord spoke of something being “precious”, we should realize it is important to seriously consider it. Below are five of ‘the precious things of heaven’ revealed to us. 1. Our Precious Saviour (I Peter 2:7). I Peter 2:7, “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,” Christ is the treasure hid in a field, the pearl of great price, for which every believer has gladly sold all that he has to obtain that treasure and have that pearl. 2. His Precious Blood (I Peter 1:18-19). I Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” The blood of Christ is precious because it is His blood, the blood of the God-man. The blood was foreordained of God as the atonement, for our sins. The blood reveals our Saviour’s love. The blood satisfies the divine justice of a holy God and removes our sin. The blood secures our forgiveness, pardon, justification and eternal glory. The blood was shed for us. All these things make the blood of Christ precious. 3. The Precious Promises of our God (II Peter 1:4). II Peter 1:4, Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” The promises of God are precious because they are God’s promises. There are mega promises hidden for us in His Word as we become familiar with it. The Bible is full of promises which give us insight and help in the issues of life. They speak of exceedingly great and precious things: pardon, peace, protection, provision, preservation, providence, and perfection. 4. Our Precious Faith (II Peter 1:1). II Peter 1:1, “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:” The doctrine of faith, the Gospel, is precious. And the grace of faith is precious, precious because it is rare. Faith in the Lord honors God and it saves the soul. The faith of Jesus Christ is precious because it makes us acceptable to God. It ushers us into the very presence of God Himself. 5. Our Precious Trials (I Peter 1:7). 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:” Your faith is genuine and reveals your Father’s love. The trial of faith is precious because it causes your love, faith, and joy in Christ to grow; causes you to enjoy and anticipate your inheritance in heaven and will give you great cause to praise and honor God in heaven. We may find it difficult to fathom God’s incredible love for us. In and of ourselves, there would be nothing to attract Him, nothing for Him to delight in. But He has made us new creations in Christ, created in the likeness of Jesus, in whom is all His delight. Points to Ponder: Jesus loves you and rejoices in your faithful service. As we learn more about Jesus and draw closer to him , it will help us greatly in our life. Questions to Consider: What five precious things of God can you write down right now? How did each of them become memorable to you? PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I thank You already for what You are going to do for me. For Your Son’s promise to always be with me. Thank You for the confidence to face the uncertainties ahead because I can have confidence in You. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Taming Your Temper (Proverbs 15:18)
Proverbs 15:18, “A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.” In the spring of 1894, the Baltimore Orioles came to Boston to play a routine baseball game, but what happened that day was anything but routine. The Orioles' John McGraw got into a fight with the Boston third baseman. Within minutes all the players from both teams had joined in the brawl. The warfare quickly spread to the grandstands. Among the fans the conflict went from bad to worse. Someone set fire to the stands and the entire ballpark burned to the ground. Not only that, but the fire spread to 107 other Boston buildings as well. It has been rightly said that when your temper boils over, you usually end up in hot water. We have seen that in our lives over and over again. It never pays to lose your temper. If you're angry, you'll say or do something you'll wish you never had said. The consequences of your rage may affect you and the lives of others for the rest of your life because you behaved foolishly. A man that is quick-tempered does things without stopping to consider the consequences of his actions. He may shoot off his mouth with curses or insults, slam doors, or throw whatever is at hand to express his rage. The thought is how that one with a quick temper stirs up trouble. In contrast, one who controls his temper and is slow to anger pacifies potential trouble. A hot temper is never a virtue. It inevitably ignites even worse trouble. The Biblical concept of meekness is of one who controls his emotions and certainly his temper. The latter tends to put out fires of strife while the former ignites them. Not all anger is wrong. Controlled anger rouses us to stand against injustice and corruption. The anger of Jesus caused Him to flush the money-changers from the Temple area. The person who has a short fuse and loses self control when he gets angry is the one who behaves foolishly and behaves in such a way where his actions lead to failure. 10 Warnings about man's unrighteous anger: (1) It causes one to do foolish things (Proverbs 14:17). (2) It is the result of pride (Proverbs 13:10). (3) It poisons others (Proverbs 22:24-25). (4) It stirs up strife and sin (Proverbs 15:18; 29:22). (5) It results in punishment (Proverbs 19:19). (6) It can be tempered with soft words (Proverbs 15:1). (7) God warns about becoming friends with an angry man (Proverbs 22:24-25). (8) Control of anger requires that one have rule over his own spirit (Proverbs 16:32; 25:28). (9) A man's wisdom causes him to control his anger (Proverbs 19:11). (10) It is to be put away from the Christian's life (Colossians 3:8). Prayer: Father in Heaven, You know the struggles I have with anger and bitterness. You know the reasons I wrestle with resentment. You know how deep the hurt goes and how long I have lived with it. But I don’t want to live with it any longer. I don’t want to be an angry, resentful, and bitter person. With Your help, I release my anger into Your hands. 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 |
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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