The Finished Work (John 17:1-4)
John 17:1-4, “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” A preacher closed a sermon with these words, "Virtue is so attractive that, if she were to become incarnate, and walk the world in human form, men would fall down and worship her." The pulpit of that church was occupied the same evening by another preacher, a humble evangelical man, who loved the gospel of a crucified Redeemer. He preached Christ crucified, and at the close of his sermon reminded the congregation of the statement made in the morning by the previous preacher, and then added, "I am sorry to say that Virtue did once walk the world in human form, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, and men, instead of falling down and worshipping Him, crucified and nailed Him to a tree." John 17 is one of the greatest chapters in the Bible, and certainly one of the most treasured. Some have referred to it as the "Holy of Holies of Sacred Scripture." This is Christ’s final public prayer to the Father before He went to the cross. In this prayer, Christ gives an account of His performance. Despite the opposition on earth, Jesus’ will was to glorify God. Jesus set His glory aside when He came to earth as man (Philippians 2:7). On the cross, Jesus glorified God by revealing how much God loves us. Without the cross, we could never understand how much God loves us (John 3:16). The reason Jesus was ready to be glorified is simply stated: He had finished the work God had given Him to do. In doing the work God had given Him to do, He had glorified God on earth. "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (John 17:4). This is the prayer we all should want to be able to pray when it comes our time to die. Jesus prayed to His Father that He had glorified Him during His earthly presence. His example remains for us today. He finished the work God gave Him to accomplish. He spoke to His disciples three years earlier, His very ‘meat’ “…was to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (John 4:34). He now had. Again, He has left an example for us. He finished His work. So should we. The only way a person can glorify God on earth is to do what God says. If a man is interested in glorifying God, he will obey God. Now the most important thing that you could do, that I could do, that anyone else could do, would be to do what God wants us to do. Just as God had a purpose for His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, He has a purpose for you as well. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, though I often struggle, help me to never lose sight of doing Your will. Your Son loved me enough to die for me, the only reasonable thing that I can do is present myself a living sacrifice. Your will is good, perfect and acceptable. And Lord, we know through prayer, we'll find it. May You have Your own way. 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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God Has Never Failed You (Deuteronomy 31:6-8)
Deuteronomy 31:8, “And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” One tribe of native Americans had a unique practice for training young braves. On the night of a boy's thirteenth birthday, he was placed in a dense forest to spend the entire night alone. Until then he had never been away from the security of his family and tribe. But on this night he was blindfolded and taken miles away. When he took off the blindfold, he was in the middle of thick woods. By himself. All night long. Every time a twig snapped, he probably visualized a wild animal ready to pounce. Every time an animal howled, he imagined a wolf leaping out of the darkness. Every time the wind blew, he wondered what more sinister sound it masked. No doubt it was a terrifying night for many. After what seemed like an eternity, the first rays of sunlight entered the interior of the forest. Looking around, the boy saw flowers, trees, and the outline of the path. Then, to his utter astonishment, he beheld the figure of a man standing just a few feet away, armed with a bow and arrow. It was the boy's father. He had been there all night long. Can you think of any better way for a child to learn how God allows us to face the tests of life? God is always present with us. God's presence is unseen, but it is more real than life itself. Moses instructed Israel to be “strong and of a good courage” because their God would not fail them nor forsake them. These words are very familiar to us. No doubt Hebrews 13:5 is quoted here. Hebrews 13:5b, “…for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” We have the promise of His presence. God’s almighty power will keep you from failing at what He has called you to do. God will not forsake you. He will faithfully abide with you all the days of your life. One of the most foolish statements a tongue can utter is “God has failed me” Yet most of us have thought or said it at one time or another—if not through our words, at least through our actions. When trying times come, we ponder, How could God have let this happen? Doesn't He know I had a plan? Isn't He paying attention? How could He fail me like this? God has never failed at anything and God has never failed anyone! We're certain we know what's best for our future, and when God doesn't cooperate, we're quick to remind Him how out of line He is. In confusion we question if only He could see things our way, He'd understand. At least that's how it seems from our point of view. But is God really so out of touch? Do we really think He isn't paying attention? There have been literally billions of people on the planet since the days of Adam, and God has never failed one of them, yet somehow, we convince ourselves that He has forgotten our predicament. What message does that send to God about the level of our trust? God's power is most evident when it seems that our life is most out of control. When we are the weakest, He is the strongest. When we need Him most, He is nearer than ever. Even when it seems that life has left us alone, God is right beside us, holding us in His mighty hand. The worst we can do during these times of trial is to blame God and fight Him for control. The best we can do is to let go and believe His promises. Points to Ponder: Confidently know that God is with you and that He is committed to you. You can fearlessly trust Him in the midst of your troubles. Questions to Consider: When is the last time you felt like God had forsaken you? Has He ever let you down in the past? How have you experienced God’s presence in hard times? What comfort do you draw from this truth today? Prayer, Father, today I need to renew my confidence and faith in You. Help me now to lay hold of Your promise that You will never leave me nor forsake me. Help me to speak and live fearlessly because I’m confident I’m in Your presence. Lord, You are with me. I am never alone. I commit this truth to my heart right now. In Jesus I pray, amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com SPIRITUAL GRAPPLING – THE FLESH VS. THE SPIRIT (GALATIANS 5:16-18)
Galatians 5:16-18, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” To walk in the Spirit means to be occupied more with Christ. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to make us more Christ-like. It is impossible to be fully occupied with Christ and commit sin at the same time. This is the key to a godly life and sanctification; to be more and more occupied with Christ. When we are led by the Spirit, we will be doing God’s will. The flesh is the sinful nature that we are born with, and the flesh has its pull in our lives. Believers who walk in the Spirit will not commit the deeds of the flesh. 1. The flesh is very strong and difficult to control. Every person knows what it is to have their flesh lusting after something, to have it yearning and yearning to lay hold of something. This is the first reason why a believer's only hope to control the flesh is the Spirit of God. 2. The flesh is contrary to the Spirit. The flesh has within itself unregulated urges and passions. A person senses the desire to do what he or she likes, to lift the restraints and follow their own inclinations, desires, passions, and emotions. This is what the Bible means when it speaks of the "lust of the flesh." However, the genuine believer has another power within their life—the power of the Holy Spirit. When the believer feels the constraint and the pressure between the flesh and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit is giving the power to overcome the flesh. The believer who listens to the constraint and walks away from the object of the pressure, and calls upon God for the courage to stay away is the believer who walks in the Spirit. 3. The flesh keeps a person from doing what he would. Every person has experienced the power of the flesh; everyone has caved into the flesh and done something that they did not want to do. They fought against doing it—knew it was harmful or hurtful—yet they did not resist the flesh. They gave into the power of the flesh and did it. The point is this: the flesh is so strong that it often keeps us from doing what we would. The only hope of ever controlling the flesh is to walk in the Spirit of God—in His presence and power. 4. The answer to conquering the lusts of the flesh is the Holy Spirit of God. The believer is to walk in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. It is the only conceivable way one can keep from fulfilling the lusts of the flesh. No person has the power to control the lusts of his flesh—not within themself. Bathe yourself in Scripture, that is where your strength will be. A preacher was speaking to a new convert who had just recently trusted Christ as their Saviour. The new convert told the preacher that there was a struggle inside them to live for Christ. The new convert explained it like a fight within them between two dogs. “Which one wins?” asked the preacher. “The one I feed the most”, said the young convert. Feed your spirit with Scripture. The reason that we are truly free isn't that our past has been changed, or our present feelings have changed. We may still feel inadequate, unsure, hesitant, afraid. We are free because God has given us His Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God within enables us. Freedom doesn't mean life without conflict. It does mean the possibility of life without defeat! Our weaknesses need not drag us down, our past no longer cripples us. The Holy Spirit is on our side in the war against the desires of our sinful nature. We no longer look to Law and struggle. We look to the Holy Spirit, trust in Him, and do what is right. PRAYER: Father, I am so thankful for Your forgiveness through Jesus Christ. I long to live a life that reflects You, but I feel powerless to do it. This process of transformation is difficult for me. I seem to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. I want to change, but I need Your help to transform me. Help me to resist responding to how I feel and help me respond in a manner that glorifies You. My greatest desire is to please You. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Going Through Tough Times? (Romans 8:28-39)
Blessings sometimes come from a bad situation. It's often possible to make something better out of something bad. That's the way God works with us. We don't often do right the first time, but He's always ready to salvage the situation no matter how bad we make it. It is a truth of certainty for everyone who loves God. Pastor R.A. Torrey said, "This verse is a soft pillow for a tired heart." All things…good or bad; sweet or bitter; victory or defeat; happy or sad; health or sickness; prosperity or poverty; calm or storm; comfort or suffering; life or death...all things work together for good. This doesn't mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our world, but God is able to turn the bad around for our good and for His sovereign purpose in our lives. Some people do not know why bad things happen to good people. We know all things work together, somehow, for good or our best. Bad events and circumstances work together for good. Notice the words of Paul. I. There is a Purpose for our Problems Romans 8:28 Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Whatever happens, I can trust God, realizing He is using life's circumstances to conform me into Christlikeness. II. There is a Process for our Problems Romans 8:29-30 Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:30, “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” III. There is a Promise Concerning our Problems (Romans 8:31-39) Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” The fact that people are against me fades in light of the fact that He will furnish all that I need in life, including Christ Himself. Romans 8:32, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:33, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.” Accusations against me are meaningless in view of the fact that Christ is in constant communication with the Father on my behalf. Romans 8:34, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:35-37, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” I can rest in the assurance of Christ's love as He promises me complete victory in every situation. Romans 8:38-39, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” No controlling factors in life can separate me from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus. Prayer, Father, Since I know You love me, and I know Your plans for me will come to pass, I faithfully discharge the duties I have been given. I will perform everything I am expected to do in excellence, whether others are watching or not. I will never give up, cave in or quit! I declare this by faith. 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 Danger of Neglect (Hebrews 2:1)
Hebrews 2:1, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” The word slip means to drift by or slip away from. It is a nautical term that speaks of a vessel drifting on the water. The idea is that of a ship slowly drifting past its dock. It speaks of something that happens gradually and unnoticed. The Bible uses this nautical analogy many times in the Christian life. Proverbs 1:5, “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” The Hebrew word counsels is a nautical term that means to "manage the ropes, to steer, or guide." It was used in biblical times to describe pulling on the ropes and managing the sails in order to steer a ship through troubled waters and storms. That speaks volumes concerning the purpose of wise counsel in life. Proverbs 15:22, “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” Wise counsel is essential to making right decisions. Wise counsel helps us to acquire the understanding we need to get through the troubled waters of life without shipwreck. Wise counsel is guidance that moves our life in the right direction. Paul also uses this terminology in writing to Timothy. I Timothy 1:18-19, “This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck.” Shipwrecks are disastrous events. Precious life is lost. Expensive cargo is lost and the ship is taken out of service. Paul uses a very graphic warning here when he says in Hebrews 2:1, “…lest at any time we should let them slip.” The picture here is the Christian sailing the stormy seas of this world. There are storms and dangers on every side. If we are not careful to give the more earnest heed to the Word of God we will drift away from its safety. Prior to December 7, 1941, American Intelligence had been receiving and intercepting coded Japanese messages about an impending attack on the United States. These warnings were deciphered and passed on to those in charge. Early in the morning on December 7th, a telegram came from Washington D.C. to the commanding officer at Pearl Harbor. The person on duty that received the telegram did not want to wake up the commanding officer who was sound asleep, so he let him sleep and figured he could read it later. If this message had been opened, several lives would have been saved. The Japanese surprised and attacked Pearl Harbor killing over 2,400 people. When we plant seeds of neglect, they will always sprout into blooms of disaster. We can see the foolishness of an officer neglecting a message. However, you and I are in danger of neglecting an even greater message. We're in danger of neglecting the message that Christ has clearly sent forth in His Word. One of the great dangers in the Christian life is neglect. This is where most backsliding starts. People do not plan to drift from God they just start neglecting things and rationalize the reasons for doing it. They intend to get things right quickly and only let it go on for a short time, but many times end up in a place they never thought they would be. Remember Elimelech took his family to "sojourn" temporarily in Moab. His sons married outside the will of God and he and his sons died in Moab. The family was there 10 years and it never worked out the way he planned it. Trust God and move forward in your life based on Biblical principle. Neglect in the life of the Christian can be extremely damaging.
The danger of drifting is in the life of the careless, neglectful, double-minded Christian. James 1:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” One of the discouraging elements of being a Christian is to see someone who once was living for Christ, get sidetracked and spiritually slide into a condition of coldness, callousness, carnality, criticalness, and corruption. We are all capable of doing this if we are not careful. Paul was scared to death that this would happen to him. I Corinthians 9:27, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Let me ask, are you drifting away from the Lord? Some may say, "I don't know. How do I know if I am drifting?" There are a number of signs that indicate a person is drifting from the Lord. Knowing the signs and God's solutions will help us stay on our spiritual toes. Beware of the danger of drifting. If we do not practice truth, we tend to eventually forget it, or let it slip from our minds and our lives because we are not anchored to God's Word. If our relationship and fellowship with Christ is weak, we will have a tendency to drift and be pushed around by any wave that comes our way. If our walk with God is not vital and valuable to us, we will drift from Him. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Spiritual Fog (Psalm 119:105)
Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” There has already been several mornings this year where we have seen a fog in our area. A fog is the result of air being cooled to the point where it can no longer hold all water vapor it contains. It takes a lot of effort to get out of bed on these foggy, gloomy mornings. For some, gloom can have a serious impact on their outlook on life. The fog causes limited visibility and one can only see so far ahead. The fog can cause you to become disoriented. When we are on a busy schedule and with all the disruption, we can easily drown God out. The busyness of life can often cause one to focus primarily on self, causing us not to prioritize on the Lord. Fog creeps in making me lose clarity on my situation. It’s very hard to make wise decisions when the direction is distorted. God is working behind the scenes. It would be easy to think He was actually absent but this is not true. It’s only when the sun begins to rise that the fog gets thinner. We have to wait for God to burn off the spiritual fog, the fog of confusion or disillusionment, then are we able to see clearly. The Lord often tests us with spiritual fogs in life. Fogs cause us to slow down in life or to learn to wait! During these times, we are not to make hasty decisions. When you cannot see clearly it is the time to stop and wait. Wait until the fog lifts no matter how much pressure is put on you by man or other things. Many are so impatient when in waiting mode. Psalm 5:3, “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” We must be mindful that there are spiritual fogs. Walking in the Spirit is not denying the fact that the fog exists in our lives. Walking in the Spirit helps us to keep our eyes on what God has said in His Word in spite of the presence of the fog. Walking in the Spirit helps us to see through the fog that surrounds us. Walking in the Spirit is having a clear and present awareness of the presence of the Spirit of God in our lives. When nothing is normal, so to speak, stop, look at the consistency of God’s Word. It’s here you can say, “I know I’m on the right path. He’s led me here, but it’s foggy right now”. And God’s silence seems deafening. Go back to what you Know is true and wait for God to show you more. Stand there and trust that the LORD will give you clear direction. Just as the sun burns away the foggy mist in the air that we may see clearly, the Son gives us clarity of mind that we may focus on what He has before us. It doesn’t always “feel” good when we wait. We must learn discipline to wait on the LORD. In His time, He will give us our release. The LORD knows the rest of the story; however, He wants us to know if we believe Him. Why? He wants us to see our own heart. If we cannot wait on God, we will get into trouble. This is a time of testing for many. Stand on what God has already told you in His Word. There are times and seasons when we must trust even though we can’t see a thing. I’m waiting on exciting pieces of God’s giant puzzle to fit together in my life. So wait. Knowing you worship a sovereign God Who is in control. And in His perfect timing, the fog will be lifted and the light will shine clearly and perfectly on the path He has chosen for me. I was allowing God’s light in only a little, therefore, the fog had been thinning but still existent. God’s message was loud and clear. I needed to let His light shine in full radiance on my fog-filled life. Once I do my part, His light will naturally burn away the fog. I need to do my part willingly and not just as an act of obedience. Do as He asks cheerfully and be ready to receive His promises to you! Allow His light to shine in full radiance in your life! As you do, the fog will be lifted and His light will clearly shine through your life! PRAYER: Thank You that You do not give me confusion, but You give me clarity. Your Word instructs me, Your people counsel me, and Your Spirit leads me. Help me to fill up on the Word, to seek wise advice, and to rely on Your Spirit, who is always with me. 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 Joy-FULL (I John 1:4)
I John 1:4, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” John wants his readers to know joy. When you experience meaningful, intimate fellowship with God through Jesus Christ, you will experience true joy that is not dependent on your circumstances and that is not found anywhere else. True joy surpasses external circumstances. It is stability on the inside in spite of what is occurring on the outside. Joy means an inner gladness, a deep seated pleasure. It is the depth of assurance and confidence that ignites a cheerful heart. Those who love Jesus and know Jesus and live for Jesus will have joy in life. When asked about their faith, only 3% of Americans mentioned enjoyment of their relationship with God as their greatest source of spiritual fulfillment. John G. Mitchell wrote, “The enjoyment of spiritual life can come only as we walk in fellowship with God. A Spirit filled life is the enjoyment of divine life; it is that life of fellowship. There is no higher experience for a believer, either on earth or in heaven, than the experience of personal, intimate fellowship with the living, sovereign, eternal God.” Warren Wiersbe said, “Joy is not something that we manufacture for ourselves; joy is a wonderful by-product of our fellowship with God.” Lehman Strauss said, “There can be no real joy until the partnership with God and His Son and His children has been established. When our fellowship is what it ought to be, the attainment of the fullness of joy will result.” Charles Simeon said, “There are but two lessons for the Christian to learn: the one is, to enjoy God in everything; the other is, to enjoy everything in God.” Somewhere along the way we have missed it. We equate joy with happiness and happiness with joy. When you are happy you do have joy, no doubt, but you can have joy and still not be happy. We cannot be happy about our circumstances from without and still be filled with joy from within. People that are suffering persecution, illness, sickness, loss of a loved one can still have the joy of the Lord. It is during these times that people may not be outwardly happy, but Jesus can give them inward joy. Dr. R.A. Torrey and his wife went through a time of great heartache when their 12 year old daughter was accidentally killed. The funeral was held on a gloomy, miserable, rainy day. They stood around the grave and watched as the body of their little girl was put away. As they turned away, Mrs. Torrey said, ‘I’m so glad that Elizabeth is with the Lord and not in that box.’ But, even knowing this to be true, their hearts were broken. Dr. Torrey said that the next day, as he was walking down the street, the whole thing broke anew—the loneliness of the years ahead without her presence, the heartbreak of an empty house, and all the other implications of her death. He was so burdened by this that he looked to the Lord for help. He said, ‘And just then, this fountain, the Holy Spirit that I had in my heart, broke forth with such power as I think I had never experienced before, and it was the most joyful moment I had ever known in my life! Oh, how wonderful is the joy of the Holy Ghost! It is an unspeakable glorious thing to have your joy not in things about you, not even in your most dearly loved friends, but to have you a fountain ever springing up, springing up, springing up, always springing up 365 days in every year, springing up under all circumstances unto everlasting life.” A little girl remarked about her principle that she believed he went to Heaven every night because he was so happy every day. The principle was told of this and he used a great metaphor about a Christian’s joy. He said, ‘Joy is the flag which is flown from the castle of the heart when the King is in residence there.” Jesus came that we may have that kind of joy. He wants our joy to be full, complete, not lacking in any way. The joy of the Lord is our strength. He is our source of joy, knowing Him and living for Him gives great joy to the heart. Jesus Christ is our source of joy and gives it abundantly to us. 1. Joy comes from God’s protection and trusting in Him. Psalm 5:11, “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” 2. Joy comes from the presence of the Lord in our lives. Psalm 16:11, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” 3. Joy comes from God’s salvation. Isaiah 12:3, “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.” 4. Joy comes from the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith…” 5. Joy comes from knowing that your name is written in Heaven. Luke 10:20, “Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” 6. Joy comes from the Word of God. John 15:11, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” 7. Joy comes from answered prayers. John 16:24, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” Questions to Consider:
PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I thank You for the Bible. Your Word helps me glorify You as I experience true joy and close fellowship with You. Help me to remove anything in my life that would hinder fellowship with You. Help me to never settle for occasional or distant fellowship, but a closer walk with You in obedience. May I make and spend time daily with You in Your Word and in prayer. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com No Other Blood…No Other Offering (Hebrews 9:12)
Hebrews 9:12, “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” The blood of Christ is in Heaven today! Just as pure and powerful as when it flowed from His wounds on Calvary. His blood was not an ordinary blood, but was the blood of God in which He purchased the church (Acts 20:28). Jesus entered into the Holy of Holies of the tabernacle in Heaven with His own blood and offered it before God the Father, the works of His sin-atoning sacrifice as the sinner’s Substitute. Jesus gave, not only the ultimate sacrifice, but the final sacrifice. Because once Jesus offered Himself there was nothing further that needed to be done. Praise God that we have the perfect and complete sacrifice in Jesus. There is no greater love ever shown that compares to what Jesus has done for us. Jesus' entrance into Heaven with His own blood perfectly fulfills the Old Testament typology of the Levitical High Priest's work in Leviticus 16. On the Day of Atonement, the priest had to come into the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle with a blood offering from an animal. In Christ's case, it was His own blood which He shed at Calvary. His blood was shed, not spilled or lost. He sprinkled it on the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies. In the Old Testament, the priest in the Tabernacle went into the Holy of Holies once a year, however, it was not eternal. But Heaven’s only High Priest, Jesus Christ, offering was once and eternal. When our Saviour cried, ‘It is finished’, He fully accomplished the redemption of His people. The death of Christ effectually secured and guaranteed the eternal salvation of every born-again believer. Everyone who trusts in Him for salvation will never be condemned because they are completely forgiven of all sin. “We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Colossians 1:13-14). God charged our sins to Christ, Christ nailed them to the cross and His blood washed them away (I Peter 2:24). Christ’s blood provides complete access into the heavenly Holy of Holies. The only High Priest of the Heavenly Tabernacle is Jesus Christ. All things are done by His power and authority (Matthew 28:18). The tabernacle on earth was constructed with the hands of man. The tabernacle in heaven was built by God himself. The earthly tabernacle was patterned after the one in heaven and gave us a very clear picture of what the Messiah would do one day. The Heavenly Tabernacle is perfect in every way and never has been, or will be, destroyed. The one built by man has been destroyed and, at times, has been defiled. There had to be bloodshed and blood applied for the sacrifice to have any benefit to those putting their trust in it. This was illustrated for us at the first Passover (Exodus 12:13). If the blood was not applied, all the firstborn would have died. It is only when the blood is applied that it saves. It was done by the high priest the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. This was done after Jesus rose from the dead. It was done in the holy of holies in the Heavenly Tabernacle and it was sprinkled on the mercy seat. Jesus blood was not lost on earth but was applied just like it was by the high priest in the earthly tabernacle. It served as a perfect illustration of what Jesus did for us as our High Priest. Because of this, He obtained eternal redemption for us. Our salvation is secure in Jesus and it is something we can never lose (John 3:36). He stands before God the Father on our behalf. Those for whom Christ shed His blood are forgiven because they are completely freed from the curse of the law (Romans 8:1; Galatians 3:13). When Christ was made to be sin for us, He was made a curse for us. When He died under the curse of the law for us, removing our sins, He removed us from the curse. Where there is no sin there can be no curse. Believers have been completely justified by the death of Christ. Justification is received by faith, but it was fully accomplished at Calvary. Christ was ‘delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification’ (Romans 4:25). Because He obtained eternal redemption for us, our salvation is secure in Him and it is something we can never lose (John 3:36). To be justified is to be cleared of all charges, to be just as if I had never sinned. No charge will be laid against God’s elect, because God has fully justified us in Christ (Romans 8:33). And all who were crucified with Christ will be with Christ in Heaven. When Christ died as our Substitute, He arose and ascended back into Heaven as our Representative before God (Ephesians 2:4-5). All things are done by His power and authority (Matthew 28:18). Praise God for the finished work of Christ! It is said that Cyrus, the founder of the Persian Empire, once had captured a prince and his family. When they came before him, the monarch asked the prisoner, "What will you give me if I release you?" "The half of my wealth," was his reply. "And if I release your children?" "Everything I possess." "And if I release your wife?" "Your Majesty, I will give myself." Cyrus was so moved by his devotion that he freed them all. As they returned home, the prince said to his wife, "Wasn't Cyrus a handsome man!" With a look of deep love for her husband, she said to him, "I didn't notice. I could only keep my eyes on you, the one who was willing to give himself for me." Jesus gave, not only the ultimate sacrifice, but the final sacrifice. Because once Jesus offered Himself, there was nothing further that needed to be done. Praise God that we have the perfect and complete sacrifice in Jesus. There is no greater love that has ever shown that compares to what Jesus has done for us. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I thank You for sending Jesus, Your only begotten Son, to pay my sin debt. He gave His all for me and has allowed me access to You in Heaven. Help me to share this joy I have with others. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Beware of the Snare (II Timothy 2:25-26)
II Timothy 2:25-26, “In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” It is crucial that we do our best to be on guard against temptations and sinful attractions that we may be confronted with day by day. We need to understand that Satan does set traps for us just like a sea lion sets a trap for the sea gull. The sea lion is probably the gawkiest animal in the world. He likes to lounge in the sun all day, and when he does move, he is very lazy and uncoordinated. It has often been questioned how this animal succeeds to secure his favorite food, wild sea fowl. Sea gulls are so wild that it is difficult even for man to get within a gunshot of one. The seal seems to realize that it would be a waste of time to attempt to crawl up on the gulls as they rest upon the water and catch them unawares. So, he watches until the gulls are soaring slowly through the air close to the waves. Then the seal dives into the sea and swims underneath the water for some distance from the point at which he dived and allows merely the tip of his great nose to appear above the water. Remaining in this position, he gives his enormous body a rotary motion so that his nose describes a circle on the surface of the ocean. He does this so skillfully that, to the gull, his nose looks like a water bug at play. This catches the gull's eye, and it, at once, darts down with the speed of an arrow, aiming straight for the little dot. The seal sees it coming and sinks a few inches, and as the gull strikes the water with tremendous force, the seal's jaws close upward, and the gull disappears. The opposers have been influenced by Satan to believe false doctrine and to do his will in opposing the teachers of truth. These men who oppose the truth and the teachers of truth are really in opposition to themselves. Our purpose is not to set people straight, get in the last word, or win an argument. Our goal is to teach others the words and ways of God. Ministers are to help people by instructing them in meekness to come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil. This is only possible if God gives them repentance that they may be freed from Satan’s captivity. The minister must be gentle when people oppose him, that he does not react in aggression, but that he reaches out in gentleness. When he has to correct people and point out their weaknesses, he is not mean, but gentle. This is possible if the minister walks with the Lord each day. 1. Christian Everyday Satan baits our path (I Peter 5:8), not revealing what is at its end. Be careful what you are doing, where you are going, and the company you keep. By the grace of God, let the Lord win the battle over your will. The devil is most afraid of a person God can use. He knows the power of one life that can be used by God. Therefore, he sets his snare, which can be envy, sensual pleasure, pride, etc. He knows our weaknesses and sets his snare accordingly. 2. Church Within the church, this is a believer whose emotions the devil has manipulated until the person becomes the source of strife, discord, and subversion in the church, all the while thinking that he is doing the will of God. This is a deceived believer, captured by the enemy and now working for the devil to disrupt the local church! Anyone who is in opposition to God’s work, whether they know it or not, are ensnared in a demonic deception, and are doing the devil’s work. We minister to them in gentleness, in the hope they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. The word recover means "to regain one's senses or to be sober again." A person who is snared by the Devil is described as being mentally drunk. His thinking is impaired. He is taken captive of the Devil by will. Those in this text who oppose the Lord and, are a problem in the church, are that way because of Satan who has ensnared them and taken them captive. A meek approach is the only approach that can free a person from the snare of the devil. People who are controversial and argumentative, critical and gossiping may not like to think that they are ensnared by the devil, but Scripture clearly says they are. 3. Classroom We are in a great battle for the minds of young people today. Today, for the most part in classrooms, rather than being taught, students are being indoctrinated. The battle is not going to be won in boardrooms or with ballots, but with the Bible. The solution is, and has always been,the Lord. 4. Community If we are to be people God can use, we must gently instruct those who oppose us, praying God will acknowledge the truth. Our goal should never be to embarrass or prove someone wrong, but to be used of God to gently bring people to repentance. This means we treat them respectfully and do not argue or talk down to them. Instead of antagonizing them, we should lovingly and humbly lead them to the truth of God's Word. a. The Christian life calls for Prudence. We must never underestimate the power of the world to corrupt us. Even though we must live in the world, we must be careful not to let the world live in us. Evil communications corrupt good manners. b. The Christian life calls for Passion. We must never allow our passion for God to cause us to be calloused toward those who don't share the passion. c. The Christian life calls for Proclamation. Paul instructs Timothy that if the people are to be taught, he is to teach them. If the Gospel is to be preached, he will have to preach it. We are not to quarantine ourselves from the world. Instead, we are to connect the world with the proclamation of God's Word and with the demonstration of God's love. That is still an effective strategy for us today as we live out our lives in a fallen world. PRAYER: Lord, give me the wisdom to walk wisely in the wicked world. Help me to recognize Satan’s strategy, that I will not become a victim he uses, but a vessel that will honor You. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN! If this post has blessed you in any way please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com The Writing Is On The Wall (Daniel 5:25-28)
Daniel 5:25-28, “And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.” Most of us have either used or heard the expression “the writing is on the wall”. The expression 'the writing is on the wall' is used whenever an inevitable result or imminent danger has become apparent. While many have used this saying, some have no idea where it comes from. It comes from the Book of Daniel found in the Bible, God’s Word. Have you ever tried to tell someone that what they are doing is wrong? It is not easy, especially when it is someone in authority over you. Daniel interpreted the writing on the wall. It was a message of impending doom. Daniel told the king the truth with boldness and courage. God was patient and longsuffering with this king, yet the king refused to worship the LORD. 1. MENE. Means "to number." God had tested the kingdom of Babylon and found it lacking. God had numbered the duration of the days of Belshazzar's kingdom and was about to bring it to an end. Belshazzar's number was up! At that very moment the Persians were entering the city. Babylon was finished, it was all done. a) The Decree was Prophetic: Though these intelligent men understood the words that were written, they were clueless on any spiritual application (I Corinthians 2:14). Without spiritual discernment, no one can properly apply the Word of God (Hebrews 5:14). The decree about length of time of the Babylonian Empire had already been determined by God. We see that the faithful prophet Jeremiah prophesized this event before it happened (Jeremiah 25:11-12). The accuracy of prophecy shows the divine and infallible nature of the Word of God. There is a day when the nation of America will expire as a world power. I hope it is not in my lifetime, but we have no guarantee of that. Every believer needs to be serious about serving God and doing it with all their heart. 2. TEKEL. Means "to weigh." The word "tekel" indicates the dearth or deficit of the king. The king had been evaluated by God, weighed in a balance and found wanting and had come up short. That is to say, Belshazzar was seriously deficient according to God’s standards. b) The Determination was Piercing: God had weighed Belshazzar in the balances and examined him thoroughly. This examination found Belshazzar to be deficient in his moral character, depraved in his sensual living, and deplorable in his idolatrous practices. God knows everything and will evaluate every life with 100% accuracy (Proverbs 5:21). This king could not hide any of his sin from God and was fully exposed. We must remember, as Christians, that all of our works we have done since we have been saved will be evaluated (I Corinthians 3:13-14). 3. UPHARSIN. This is from a combination of two words. U means "to divide" and the word pharsin which means "the Persians." It indicates the division and destruction of Babylon. The kingdom was to be broken up or divided and given to the Medes and Persians. Persia was represented in the image of Daniel 2 by the silver chest and arms. c) The Division was Powerful: The time of Babylon was done, and at that time, a new world power would rise up. This was all prophesized before it ever happened and it followed the dream that Daniel interpreted for Nebuchadnezzar perfectly in Daniel 2. This new power, with the help of God, successfully took down the kingdom that no one thought could be conquered. God can take down the proud no matter how strong they are in their military (Obadiah 3). The writing on the wall was the announcement that judgment day had come for Babylon. The mighty empire, which had conquered and ravaged peoples and nations, and had taken captive the Israelites in 586 BC, would now fall. God changes times and seasons, and he removes and sets up kings (Daniel 2:21). Near the end of Daniel 5, God is changing the times and shifting empires. Nebuchadnezzar once said of God that “none can stay his hand” (Daniel 4:35). And God’s hand had written on the banquet wall what would come for Babylon. What then did God mean when He told Belshazzar he had been "weighed in the balances, and art found wanting"? The answer is really very simple. Belshazzar had neglected the knowledge he had received. He knew about his grandfather, Nebuchadnezzar’s, faith in Daniel's God following his years of living like an animal. Belshazzar rejected that truth and refused to believe in the one true God. God had weighed Belshazzar in the balances and examined him thoroughly. This examination found Belshazzar to be deficient in his moral character, depraved in his sensual living, and deplorable in his idolatrous practices. God knows everything and will evaluate every life with 100% accuracy (Proverbs 5:21). This king could not hide any of his sin from God and now he was fully exposed. We must remember, as Christians, that all of our works we have done since we have been saved will be evaluated (I Corinthians 3:13-14). The accuracy of prophecy shows the divine and infallible nature of the Word of God. Every believer needs to be serious about serving God and doing it with all their heart. All of us have been "weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." The apostle Paul made this point very clear in his letter to the Romans. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). We've all missed the mark in terms of measuring up to God's perfect standard. The Lord Jesus Christ was the exception. Jesus is sinless (I Peter 2:22; I John 3:5; II Corinthians 5:21). He was the God-man. God was His heavenly Father and Mary His earthly mother. Being without sin, He became " The Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. " (John 1:29). He sacrificed His life on the cross to pay for our sins and to provide eternal life to all who receive Him as personal Saviour (John 1:12; Romans 6:23). Prayer, Father in Heaven, thank You for being patient with me when I chose not to prioritize You. You put up with my mistakes while the whole time passionately seeing that I become more like Christ. Help me to be more patient and longsuffering with others. In Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com |
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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