The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatian 5:22-23)
Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” In John 15, Jesus taught and preached concerning bearing fruit. Jesus used the illustration of a vineyard to tell us how to allow the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit. In this passage, God is the husbandman (John 15:1), Jesus is the vine (John 15:1, 5), and we are the branches (John 15:5). Without the vine the branch can do nothing (John 15:4-5). Just as the branch needs the life of the vine every day, we need the Holy Spirit of God every day. The fruit of the Spirit (not fruits) is like a cluster of grace. It has all of these in the one cluster. A fruit tree, such as an apple tree, produces several apples, but only apples. The Holy Spirit is the Source of all spiritual fruit in our lives. Picture one tree producing nine different kinds of fruit. Examples: Apples, Oranges, Pear, Bananas, Peaches, Cherries, Plums, Grapes, Strawberries. The fruit of the Spirit has nine components: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance Galatians 5:22-23a. The fruit of the Spirit has three groups. 1. Love, joy, and peace are qualities which appear in our relationship with God. 2. Longsuffering, gentleness, and goodness are qualities which appear in our relationship with others. 3. Faith, meekness, and temperance are qualities which appear in our relationship with ourselves. By yielding to the Lord we become fruitful. As Christians, we are called to bear fruit. That means we are to produce the fruit of the Spirit in increasing abundance over the course of our faith walk. All the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit must be present in our lives if we are allowing the Holy Spirit to produce His fruit in us. The fruit of the Spirit is for the benefit of others. Within each of us there is an abundant harvest of fruit to minister to those we encounter. All around us are people who desperately need love, joy, peace, gentleness, someone to be patient with them, be good to them, and so on. The fruit of the Spirit enables us to meet the basic human needs God has instilled in every human being. Question to Consider: Can you think of one person who manifests the character of Jesus Christ so much that when you are with him or her, you feel as if you have been with Jesus? Point to Ponder: Write down some ways the Lord is using you to display His fruit in your life. Prayer: Lord, thank You for sowing Your Spirit and Word into my life. Help me yield to the divine seed You have planted inside me. I know that Your life resides in me, longing to be released, so today I make the choice to let Your Spirit start working mightily inside me. Thank You for the life of God that is flowing up from my spirit right now, producing the life and the nature of Jesus Christ in 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
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The Right Place...The Right People…The Right Time (Esther 4:14)
Esther 4:14, “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” While Esther was enjoying her new role as queen, her uncle Mordecai uncovered a plot to exterminate the Jewish people in the land. He realized that something had to be done and that Esther was in the right position at the right time. But would she accept the challenge? God placed the right woman in the right place at the right time. Did it ever occur to you that you could be one of God’s heroes and that God is equipping and preparing you for something yet ahead? God has put us on this earth for a purpose. I used to think that I would have wanted to live in another period of time. Often Old Testament, New Testament, or during the great revival campaigns across our nation. I no longer feel that way. I am grateful and confident that with the Lord there are no mistakes, and He has His people positioned at the right place and at the right time. Knowing the Lord is coming soon and having an opportunity to serve Him at this time is exciting. Where you are today is no accident. Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, challenged her and changed her life by saying, “who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther never set ought to become a queen, but once she was, she had to decide between her comfort and her calling. It’s a choice we all make. We all ask ourselves, “What’s my calling?” This involves your marriage, your family, your job, your friendships. It involves the community in which you live and service at your home church. One thing is certain, when God calls, it’s your time. Whenever you’re tempted to wait for some other time or a more important opportunity. Keep in mind, you don’t get to choose your time, God does that. Psalm 31:5a, “My times are in thy hand…” God sends ordained people for an ordained purpose to guide us. Without Mordecai in her life, Esther might never have understood her calling. And without his help, she might never have embraced it. The question you should ask is, “Who is your Mordecai?” Who knows you well enough to help clarify your calling? Who loves you enough to challenge you when you get off track, or to strengthen you when you want to quit and turn back? Not one of us is a composite of all of life’s virtues; we all have blind spots and weaknesses. That’s why God chooses to send others and why we need them. Maybe it is the Lord speaking to our hearts and telling us to take a bold step of faith and do something we have never done, something way out of our comfort zone. God gives gifts and talents to each of us that we need to use. Esther delivered when it was needed. You have a gift that was given to you by God. Everyone has a role to play. Everyone has talents and gifts that are given to them by God that they must discover, cultivate, and use for His glory. Esther put her life on the line, spoke up for her people and saved the Jewish people as a result. God is preparing His heroes, and when the opportunity comes, He can fit them into their places in a moment, and the world will wonder where they came from. God has put us on this earth for a purpose. As a believer, you are also lifted to a high position. You are now a child of God. You are a co-heir with Jesus. With this position, you have the purpose of bringing a message to the world. In this life, every position you hold, every place you go, you have a purpose. That purpose is to bring others to a saving knowledge of Jesus. You are in the right place, at the right time to bring that message to whomever you are around. You are the one who can do what no one else can do. You are there for a purpose. And He has put all of us where we are for such a time as this. Sometimes the Lord will speak to our hearts and tell us to do something. Maybe it is the Lord speaking to our hearts and telling us to take a bold step of faith and do something we have never done, something way out of our comfort zone. It might be something unexpected that God will call you to do “for such a time as this”. You can find that purpose and dedicate your life to the glory of God, or you can ignore it and chase after the empty promises of this world. It’s really your choice. PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You that every day is a new beginning with new opportunities to trust in You. Lord, guide me in Your ways so that I will know how to take a stand for You just as Esther did. When I start to feel out of place, help me to know You are near. 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 Seeking the Lord with All Your Heart (Deuteronomy 4:29)
Deuteronomy 4:29, “But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.” If a person is to seek the Lord with all their heart, one must prepare themself. Lets look at the examples of King Rehoboam (II Chronicles 12:14) and King Hezekiah (II Chronicles 30:18-19). II Chronicles 12:14, “And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.” If you desire to seek the Lord and establish a close walk with Him, then you need to prepare yourself to do that. If you fail to do this, sin tends to take root in your heart. This is what happened to King Reheboam. Those who sought God prepared their hearts to seek Him. King Hezekiah stressed the importance of doing this. II Chronicles 30:18-19, “For a multitude of the people, even many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good Lord pardon every one 19 That prepareth his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.” Ezra was another man of God that prepared his heart to seek the Lord and obey Him. Ezra 7:10, “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” In order for a believer to prepare their heart to serve the Lord faithfully, he or she must decide to follow the Lord and refrain from wandering away. It was Caleb and Joshua who had wholly followed the Lord, and David knew that. They only of the generation which came out of Egypt were allowed to enter the promised land. The psalmist made up his mind in Psalm 119:10. Psalm 119:10, “With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.” A lack of commitment to Christ will lead to spiritual apathy and to wandering away from God. The word wander means to go astray or to be led astray; to swerve out of control, to be tossed to and fro, and roll back and forth. The words “whole heart” clearly indicate a wholehearted dedication. David freely and openly cried out with his whole heart seeking after God. David further knew that God had required that he seek Him with the whole heart (Deuteronomy 10:12). He knew that God had promised specific blessing for serving Him with a whole heart (Deuteronomy 11:13). David knew that Joshua had commanded Israel to serve God with all their hearts (Joshua 22:5). The thought here is being led astray from God’s Word. David therefore pled with God to keep him from being so led astray. He was well aware of the distractions and diversions of life which lead to detours from God’s way. The devil knows that if he can replace God as the greatest desire of our hearts—even with something that is not sinful—he has destroyed our effectiveness. This word, unfortunately, describes many unstable believers today. They have no stability in their lives and spiritually they are weak. They make one mistake after another, and also destructive choices that scar their lives with long term consequences. Spiritual apathy is like cold water on a burning heart on fire for God. Apathy and indifference cool us spiritually and many have adapted a “whatever” attitude in their dedication and service to Christ. This is why we need to seek Him with our whole heart, with a 100% effort. We are to jump in with both feet when it comes to serving and loving Him. Make up your mind and put the Lord first in your life. The same fact holds true with God. God is disgusted with our half-heartedness toward Him. He is not comfortable at all with this kind of attitude. It makes Him sick as He expressed to the apathetic church in Laodicea. Revelation 3:15-16, “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” The psalmist’s commitment was to seek God wholeheartedly. He realized that his passion for God’s Word could diminish over time, that he could grow indifferent to spiritual truth. And, because he was fully aware of human nature’s sinful tendencies, he feared straying from the Lord’s commandments. For him, a casual, half-hearted commitment was not enough. If he was going to remain faithful to the Lord and His Word—if he was going to stay pure—he knew that he had to keep the fires of passion burning for God and His Word. Questions to Consider: · Have you given your whole heart to the Lord? · Do you hunger for the Lord? · Do you have an appetite for spiritual matters or are you full of the delicacies that the world offers you? · Have you lost your appetite for the world? Points to Ponder: · The urge to wander from God will be strong if you are in love with this world.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, may I seek you with all my heart and not wander away. Help me never to grow cold or calloused towards You, Your Word, or others. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Let Me Tell You About Jesus (Mark 5:17-20)
Mark 5:17-20, “And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts. 18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. 19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.” If I were to take the time to share with you all the times I have had to tell others about Jesus it would take all day. Although I cannot know how many parts this series of the devotion will cover, each day, I will attempt to write more about the encounters I have had to share my faith in Christ with others. The Lord has been so good to me and has allowed me countless of opportunities to share with others of His goodness and grace. Today, I would like share with you this encounter… I ministered on the streets of downtown Memphis for 13 years. It was during this same time when I pastored in north Mississippi. On Friday and Saturday evenings I would fill my backpack full of Gospel tracts and New Testaments and set off for downtown. I would spend many hours there handing out the Gospel tracts and New Testaments until the backpack was empty. I would walk through the parks, the shelter’s, historic Beale Street and many other areas. There are a few times a year when downtown Memphis hosts a large crowd. One is Elvis week and the other is Memphis in May International Festival celebration. It typically hosts over 100,000 people during the weekend. These two festivities bring crowds of people, not just from all over these United States, but also from all over the world. Talk about world-wide missions’ endeavors. Jesus has commanded us to tell others about Him. This event gave me the opportunity to reach the world with the Gospel of Christ. Imagine, people from different parts of the world coming into your own backyard and all you have to do is get up and go tell them about Jesus. Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Acts 1:8, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” I received a call one day in my church office. My phones’ caller ID verified this call was an incoming call from British Columbia, Canada. It was not to my surprise when the caller on the other end asked to speak to me. What had surprised me was why he was calling. He had explained to me that our paths had crossed several weeks before on Beale Street in Memphis, TN. Furthermore, he went on to say that he did not remember me at all, but it’s what I had told him that he had held to. He went on to tell me that I didn’t say much to Him other than I told him “Jesus loves Him and that He died for Him. I told him to not throw it away but to keep it and to put it in his pocket, and later, when you have a chance to read it.” He went on to tell me that he was giving me a call to tell me about a decision he had made the next day. He told me that he had read the Gospel tract that I had handed him the following day and he had trusted Christ as his Saviour. We continued to converse for the next half an hour. I as able to share Scriptures with him regarding spiritual growth and what he can do to share his faith in Christ with others. You never know when the opportunity to tell others about Jesus will occur. John 1:29, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John the Baptist saw Jesus and spoke up right away, telling others that Christ was the solution to the world’s sin problem. He was the One who would be the sacrifice, the Lamb of God, for mankind’s sins. That is our message to this lost and dying world. That is our blessing and responsibility to tell others and point them to Christ. PRAYER: Father, thank You for bringing me to a saving faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ. That is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. Forgive me for not sharing this Good News with others on a regular basis. Bring people into my life that I can tell about Your amazing love. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Joy of Justification (Romans 3:24)
Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” Two brothers were spending their Saturday doing their chores when the younger brother accidently knocked over a can of paint saturating most of the garage floor. When the older brother witnessed it, he told the younger brother he would not tell their father if the younger brother mowed the lawn from now on. The younger brother was at first reluctant, but agreed. After a week, the younger brother told his older brother that he would no longer mow the lawn. The older brother was quick to remind his younger brother of the agreement and that he would go to their father immediately. The younger brother said with joy, “Fine! I have already told dad, and he forgave me.” Justification is the redemptive act of Jesus Christ at Calvary, whereby He declares the repentant and believing sinner free of all guilt and entitled to all the blessings and responsibilities of the kingdom. Justification is that spiritual blessing whereby God removes the filthy garments of our own "good" works, pays the debt of our sins, and argues our case as defense attorney with the resulting verdict—not guilty, entirely by the grace of Jesus Christ. If the judge acquits me, who can condemn me? If the highest court in the universe has pronounced me just, who shall lay anything to my charge? God has already announced the verdict; the person who has faith in Jesus stands acquitted. Now, we are declared righteous by the One to whom there is no further appeal (Romans 5). There are several reasons being justified brings a believer joy. Here are three. 1. Justification clears, or frees, us from the fear of judgment as it relates to condemnation and the penalty of death (John 3:17-18; Romans 4:3-4). When we are justified by faith, our iniquities are forgiven and our sins are covered, and it is all done by God imputing righteousness without works. Satan loves to bring our past sins up to us. He looks for opportunities to accuse us and to haunt us with our past (Revelation 12:10). He is aware if he can consume us with guilt that he can conquer our service to the Lord. We have been fully forgiven and there is no more any condemnation (Romans 8:31-39). 2. Justification cancels out our enormous debt that we would never be able to pay. Again, imputation means a debt is owed; one is unable to pay, but the debt is satisfied when another steps in and pays the account on behalf of the debtor. If you will go to the LORD and take Christ’s righteousness (which is perfect) He will accredit it to your account. So, when you stand before God, you will stand before God as though you have never sinned. Not because your sinless, but because of your account. 3. Justification clothes us with robes of righteousness (I Peter 2:22; II Corinthians 5:21). Jesus Christ does not only deliver us from the pollution of sin by cleansing us, but God placed your sin upon Christ on the cross. Jesus placed your sins on His account and clothed you with His righteousness. So that when you stand before the Father, He will see you as justified. The Canadian Ironman competition involves a 3.8 km swim, followed by an 180 km cycle, and ends with the traditional 42 km marathon run. The Ironman competition, however, is not just a physical fitness competition, but a battle of the mind. In the race, all of a racer's self-doubts and inner demons rise to the surface, especially if a competitor doesn't know his or her own strengths and weaknesses. Among the mental tricks that helps competitors when the "babble" comes up is known as "treeing." If a negative thought comes up it is often hard to switch it to a positive. The competitors run up to a tree, touching it and thus give the negative emotions to the tree. The "babble" settles down and they are able to continue on. When we become a Christian, we "tree" our sin. We touch the cross and the Saviour that hung there, giving Him our sin and guilt and taking from him His righteousness. God is a holy God. He hates sin with infinite hatred. He will not look upon the smallest sin with the least bit of allowance, but God is also a God of pardoning love. He stands ready to pardon the vilest sinner. He is always calling to men and women who have sinned. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). There are those that think they have sinned too deeply to ever find pardon, but it is not so. There is no depth of sin a person can go to where God, in His loving mercy, won’t abundantly pardon that person if they’ll acknowledge their guilt of sin and turn to the Lord by faith for forgiveness. Prayer: LORD, thank You for being the God that justifies. Thank You for Your gift of forgiveness of all my sins. Help me to live like someone who is truly clean and forgiven! 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 The Problem with Pride (Proverbs 16:18)
Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride is the worst of all sins. It is also the original sin. Pride is not self-esteem, although we need self-esteem and should have it. Pride is arrogance or having an exaggerated opinion of oneself. Pride carries with it a must-be-seen attitude. A turtle wanted to spend the winter in Florida, but he knew he could never walk that far. So the turtle convinced a couple of geese to help him, each taking one end of a piece of rope, while he clamped his vise-like jaws in the center. The flight went fine until someone on the ground looked up in admiration and asked, "Who in the world thought of that?" Unable to resist the chance to take credit, the turtle opened his mouth to shout, "I ahhhhhh............." Pride is the predecessor to destruction and is the forerunner of trouble. Arrogance, or a bighead, always precedes a fall. Pride and arrogance are balloons that are soon popped. In Muhammad Ali’s heyday as the heavy weight champion in boxing, he had taken his seat on a 747 which was starting to taxi down the runway for take off. The flight attendant walked by and noticed Ali did not have on his seatbelt, and said, “Please fasten your seatbelt, sir.” He looked up proudly and snapped, “Superman don’t need no seatbelt.” Without hesitation she stared at him and said, “Superman don’t need no plane.” Everything you and I have comes from God. A man once said to one of his customers, "I built and earned everything I have with these two hands." The customer responded asking him, "Where did you get those hands?" Who gave you your mind, your talents, and your abilities? There is only one cause for not being close to God and that is pride. Have you noticed the middle letter in the words "pride" and "sin?" When we have an "I" problem, it pushes us away from God. Another word for pride is "ego," which someone has said stands for "edging God out." Pride causes one to become unteachable. Prideful people tend not to listen to warnings and cautions from others. When those warnings go unheeded, then sudden destruction may come. Pride also makes us feel invincible. We may think, "Nothing can hurt me” or “I can handle anything that comes my way." Then something does come along that does hurt us and we cannot handle it. If you don't get a grip on your pride, it will destroy you. Solomon warned us extensively about pride and its destructiveness. He addresses the issue of pride 13 times in Proverbs. Only one thing can destroy pride in our lives, and that is humility. Humility is the opposite of pride. Humility can push pride out of our hearts. The ultimate example of humility is Jesus Christ. That's why He “…humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). Prayer, Father in Heaven, too often I have knowingly and ignorantly come against Your will and Your ways. Open my eyes to the blessings of humility. Let me view it in its beauty and fullness of joy, not as the world sees it. While I desire a life of godly humility, pride pulls hard to overpower me. In my warfare against pride, help me to fight against ego and the flesh as I pursue humility. Your Son left the pleasures of heaven for a life of service on earth. He gave His life for ungodly, ungrateful and undeserving people. Help me have His attitude, remembering that You resist the proud and give grace to the humble. 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 The Great Encourager (II Corinthians 1:2-5)
II Corinthians 1:2-5, “Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the LORD Jesus Christ. Blessed be God, even the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” Because we are human, we all get discouraged at times. Encouragement is something we all need. Thank God it is something He has promised to every one of us. I want you to know the sweet encouragement that only our Saviour can bring. The word “comfort” means to stand beside a person, encouraging and helping him or her in a time of trouble. God fulfills this role on the highest level by sending the Holy Spirit to comfort His children (John 14:16). Paul had learned in his many troubles that no suffering, no matter how severe, can separate those who follow Jesus from the care and compassion of their Heavenly Father (Romans 8:35-39). God occasionally permits troubles in our lives so that we may learn to depend on Him and that we may better understand how to comfort others in their troubles. Throughout this letter, Paul stresses that the Christian life includes both sufferings and the comfort of Christ often at the same time. Paul had been in a painful situation. He spoke of difficulty (I Corinthians 1:4, 6, 8), distress (I Corinthians 1:5-7), despair (I Corinthians 1:8), and death (I Corinthians 1:9-10). Jesus’ promise to His disciples in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Suffering for the cause of Christ allows us to better relate to Him as a man of sorrows (Isaiah 53:3). But for every degree of suffering we face as we follow Christ, the greater the comfort He provides as we depend on Him. The Father Encourages Us. God provides comfort when we are in affliction (I Corinthians 1:3-4). God is a Father to the fatherless. He knows, understands, sees, cares, loves, and is present with His children. Hebrews perfectly expresses the way in which He gives encouragement through His Word (Hebrews 12:5). The Scripture are the means the Father uses to speak directly to us, as to His children. Our encouragement of sufferers, therefore, will simply be the means of bringing to them the encouraging Word of the Father, as we read with them. The Son Encourages Us. Jesus understands. He has experienced the loneliness, the sense of degradation, the pain, the fears, of suffering. That is not simply a thing of the past for Him. Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” The One who cried out on the Cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46) understands the depths of discouragement. The Holy Spirit Encourages Us. He is the One called to our side to give us strength. When your sense of your value to God is destitute, the Spirit bears witness with your spirit that you are a child of God. When you’re discouraged, do not cry, "O God!" rather cry, "Abba! Father!" In this way, in the midst of our suffering, we realize we are children. If we are children, we are heirs. If we are heirs, then glory awaits us (Romans 8:15-17). This is real encouragement! We should rejoice in our salvation, in the hope of God's glory, and—yes, even in our sufferings, “…because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:1-5). If anyone tries to convince you that you can avoid suffering such as physical, mental, emotional, financial problems, provided that you have enough faith, they’re not telling you the truth. Paul was a faithful follower of Jesus and obedient in word and in his walk and he suffered greatly. Paul’s suffering and ours is directly related to God’s purpose of using us to minister to others. We must not be so overcome by our suffering that we miss the unlimited comfort that God makes available in every circumstance. God is sovereign over our suffering. When we are going through trials, it is of great comfort to know that nothing comes into our lives without first passing through the hands of our heavenly Father. Don’t run from the Lord when tribulations come; run to Him and let Him work in you so that you may be comforted. Whatever happens, I can trust God, realizing He is using life's circumstances to conform me into Christlikeness (Romans 8:28-29). As children of God, we should encourage and comfort one another. I Thessalonians 5:11, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” The Scriptures urge us to encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone (I Thessalonians 5:14). PRAYER: Father, I lift up those You have personally allowed me to encounter. Those who are suffering for Your cause, those who are struggling a besetting sin, and strengthen those who are utilizing all their efforts to make an impact for you. 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 What Every Home Needs (Proverbs 9:1)
Proverbs 9:1, “Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.” From Proverbs 1-8, Solomon has taught his son about the importance of wisdom and the risks of foolishness. Proverbs 9 is his conclusion to these lessons. Wisdom has something better than any mansion on earth. It has pillars. Pillars give a building strength and beauty, as God’s Word gives us strength. Its beauty is real and unfading. The actual doing of God’s Word is the foundation that brings strength, security, and blessing. Seven is no doubt symbolic of completeness and perfection: God's word is sufficient because it comes from the only wise God. It is a home where everything we need is supplied. Solomon pleas for his son to accept wisdom’s call. God calls people to salvation through the wisdom of the cross (I Corinthians 1:18-25), and to a life of holiness and service through the wisdom of a Christ-centered life (I Corinthians 1:26-31). There is sufficient room for all who accept her invitation. Solomon’s temple had two pillars (I Kings 7:15). The seven pillars speak primarily of two things; the size and structure of wisdom’s house. Wisdom’s house is spacious and strong. The strong foundation of wisdom’s house is well-supported and is built on a solid foundation. Those who live wisely, are safe through the storms of life and are securely protected from attacks by the enemy. 1. Every Home Needs a Sure Foundation (Matthew 7:24-27). The institution of the home is God’s design. He is the best builder and sustainer of our family. He alone is the Master Architect and has the blueprint for each of our lives. Every home must allow Christ to not only be present, but to be preeminent. Families should live in such a way that the presence of God is very real. Children must see that God is the greatest reality of life, not just in church on Sunday, but that He is with us all day, everyday. This type of attitude begins with parents. Parents must model their love for Christ and to their children. The home built on the Rock of Ages will withstand the storms and trials of life. We shouldn’t be afraid of the storms because we believe in the God who controls the storms. Hardship comes to every family, but a family built upon this strong foundation will stand firm. The home is perhaps the most attacked place in the world. This is the case especially among Christian homes. Satan’s goal is to cause the family to crumble. Whenever Satan strikes the family, his desire is to capture the children. 2. Every Home Needs Strong Faith (Romans 1:17). Keep your family in a sound Bible preaching church to safeguard your home. Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” If you follow Christ faithfully, you are setting an example and securing a blessing that can reach beyond your own children for generations. A Christian home does not develop by accident; it requires dedication and much prayer. One of the best possible things you could do for your family is create a special time where your family spends time in God’s Word and in prayer. 3. Every Home Needs Sincere Forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32). God wants to heal family hurts. Ephesians 4:32, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” The Lord forgives us freely, forgetfully, fully, and forever. This is exactly how we should forgive. Love is relational dynamite that obliterates all obstacles in its path. Talking won’t do that for you. Pressuring won’t be prodding, insisting, demanding, getting selfish—these all will only tear your life and family apart. I Corinthians 13:8, “Charity never faileth.” You don’t have to do great things, just small things with great love. Express your love not only in lip service but also in lifestyle. 4. Every Home Needs Structured Finances (Proverbs 6:6–8). There is nothing wrong with money and possessions unless we allow them to control us. But when gain becomes our goal, we are headed for defeat and disaster. 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.” Be faithful stewards of God’s blessings. Get on a budget that includes a saving account. Save so that you can afford the things you are tempted to borrow for (home repairs, vacations, Christmas gifts, etc.). 5. Every Home Needs Sacrificial Furnishings. As you give to the Lord and to the needs of others, you will learn about His care and power to provide for your own personal needs in your life. You will get to know Him. Time and again, I have watched the Lord supply my needs and the needs of my family as we have put Him first in our finances and given to Him. His provision increases my faith in Him and His care for our lives. This is one of the reasons why we are encouraged to give and meet the needs of others. 6. Every Home Needs Supportive Friendship (Proverbs 17:17). As a Christian, you need to be careful about the friends you choose. They will influence you for good or for bad, depending on what kind of people they are and how they live. Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” True friends love at all times. If your friend is up or down, victorious or defeated, rich or poor, you will love him at all times. 7. Every Home Needs Sweet Fellowship. Time with family is like investing for retirement: small and consistent contributions combined over an lengthy period of time lead to a valuable return. What has made our nation great is through the teaching and training arm of the home. The kind of family you have tomorrow is determined by the kind of investments you make in your family today. Build a family and you’ll have a place to live for a long time. PRAYER: Lord, thank You for parents who did their best, even sacrificing and pouring into my life with their words and actions. Father, help me be a source of blessing to my children and others. Help me uphold, encourage, and speak about You to them. In Jesus’ name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com In Everything Give Thanks (I Thessalonians 5:18)
I Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Corrie ten Boom, in the Hiding Place, relates an incident that taught her always to be thankful. She and her sister, Betsy, had just been transferred to the worst German prison camp they had seen yet, Ravensbruck. Upon entering the barracks, they found them extremely overcrowded and flea- infested. That morning, their Scripture reading in I Thessalonians had reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. Betsy told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. Corrie, at first, flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy persisted, and Corrie finally succumbed to her pleadings. During the months spent at that camp, they were surprised to find how openly they could hold Bible study and prayer meetings without guard interference. It was not until several months later that they learned the reason the guards would not enter the barracks was because of the fleas. It is God’s will for us to give thanks in everything. Thanks is appreciation, or gratitude, voiced from our lips and hearts. It is not easy to be thankful for what we do not like, but this is the will of God. Thanks in this context means to be grateful and to express gratitude. We should be thankful for everything, whether small or big. This is a difficult, but divine, command. Scripture says to give thanks “in” everything; “not for” everything. It includes good things and bad things, joys and sorrows, gains and losses, hurts and health, good news and bad news. In everything give thanks! At all times, in all circumstances, give thanks to God. We don’t have to be thankful for our trials. But we can’t be thankful in them since we know the Lord is going to use it for our good in the future. Saying “thank you“ should be an everyday occurrence. A grateful heart is shown through grateful lips. A person who is truly thankful cannot help but to express it. Expressing gratitude for all that God has done for us through Christ should be one of the continuous character traits of all Christians (Ephesians 5:20). This kind of gracious attitude will cause the believer to stand out in his or her setting and be a good example for Christ. In our praise to God, we are to rejoice always and we are to give thanks in everything. God commands His people to give thanks to Him! We should give God praise, honor, and glory because of what He has given to us. An evergreen is always green despite the changes in weather around it. It is green in the heat of summer as well as the cold of winter. So also our lives are to be characterized by an enduring thankfulness that is unaffected by the changes around us. When the heat of a pressured week or the deadly cold of pain strikes us, we should stand ‘ever green,' always thankful, regardless of that which surrounds us. For Christians there is no situation in which we cannot give thanks. Even in affliction we are more than conquerors as the Spirit of glory and of God rests on us. A life of prayer and devotion leads to a thankful heart. One preacher well said, “We can worship the Lord without words, but we cannot praise Him without words. ” He demands our praise and He deserves our praise. Thirteen years before his conversion, John Wesley had a conversation one night with a porter of his college that impressed Wesley that there was more to Christianity than he had found. The porter had only one coat. He had eaten no food that day and yet his heart was full of gratitude to God. Wesley said to him, “You thank God when you have nothing to wear, nothing to eat, and no bed to lie upon? What else do you thank him for?” “I thank Him,” answered the porter, “that He has given me my life and being, and a heart to love Him, and a desire to serve Him.” Questions to Consider:
Points to Ponder:
PRAYER: Father, Your Word says to always give thanks and to give thanks in everything. Without Your help, that is impossible. Forgive me for all the times that I worry about my situation. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Lord’s Goodness and Mercy (Nahum 1:7)
Nahum 1:7, “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” President Calvin Coolidge was awakened one morning in his hotel room to find a burglar going through his pockets. Coolidge spoke up, asking the burglar not to take his watch chain because it contained an engraved charm very precious to him. Coolidge then engaged the thief in quiet conversation and learned he was a college student who had no money to pay his hotel bill or buy a ticket back to campus. Coolidge counted $32 out of his wallet declared it to be a loan, he also advised the young man to leave the way he had come to avoid the Secret Service! Although this young man never earned nor deserved mercy Coolidge showed this young man mercy rather justice. Surprisingly, the loan was paid back. True Biblical mercy never tolerates sin for one moment, but it shows compassion to the sinner. Mercy helps people overcome sin; it never comforts them in their sin. God declares and demonstrates His goodness to His children. Nahum described the mercy and goodness of God. He is good! He is a refuge for help in the day of trouble. Furthermore, God knows those who trust in Him. He knows His own. The Lord knoweth them that are his (II Timothy 2:19). He has promised to bless those who trust in Him (Psalms 2:12; 34:78; 40:4; 84:12). Those promises remain to this day. The mercy of the Lord is great, and I am grateful for its abundance. It is something that we do not deserve, but we are very grateful for. Without the mercy of God, we would be without, and our life would have no meaning. It is very humbling to think of the great compassion and mercy God shows to His fallen creation. Only the heart of a divine Saviour can love us at the level we receive. 1. The Lord’s Patience: No one is more patient with us than God is (Romans 15:5). If God can be patient with imperfect man, then surely we can be patient with one another. 2.The Lord’s Purpose: God has a plan for every life. With God, it’s not one mistake and you are out. Mankind’s rules, lack of forgiveness, and ignorance of the Scriptures have hindered many Christians from being used of God after they have stumbled (I Timothy 1:16). While speeding late one night, a driver saw the flashing lights of a state trooper in his rearview mirror. As the driver pulled over and as he rolled down the window, he tried to come up with an excuse for being in such a hurry. But as the trooper approached the car, he said nothing. Instead, he shined his flashlight in the driver’s face, then on his exhausted pregnant wife, then on his snoozing 18-month-old in his car seat, then on his three other children, who were also asleep, and lastly on the two dogs in the very back of the car. Returning the beam of light to his face, the trooper spoke and said, "Son, you can't afford a ticket. Slow it down." He returned to his car and drove away. Sometimes mercy triumphs over law. So it is for sinners who call out to Jesus. Prayer, Father in Heaven, use me as a sanctified vessel, to pour out mercy and love without measure on other people. Father, we live in a world where there are so many hurting people. Help me to stretch out a willing arm of comfort, when I see other people hurting or in pain. May Your Holy Spirit empower me to bless and help all those whom I come in contact. In Jesus name, Amen! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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