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Unstoppable Gospel (Acts 12:24)
Acts 12:24, But the word of God grew and multiplied. In the book of Acts, we read that the Word of God continued to grow and be multiplied, and then it mentions the return of Saul, Barnabas, and John Mark to Antioch. This sets the stage for the expansion of the Gospel among the Gentiles that comprises the rest of Acts. Herod and the Jews opposed God’s Saviour and came under His judgment. The apostles and early church suffered much, and many died violent deaths, but the Word of God continued to grow and be multiplied. God rewarded them abundantly and eternally in heaven. According to II Timothy 2:8-9, the Word of God is not bound. Regardless of the opposition, the Gospel is being spread across the world. We can always quit and give up when things get hard, or we can choose to persevere and accomplish what needs to be done. Successful disciples follow the example that Jesus set and carry on even in the face of criticism, opposition, and great difficulty. Jesus endured the hardships He faced, and if we trust Him, He will empower us to do the same. Jesus has overcome everything. Bring to mind all He has done for you. He saved you from sin and its eternal consequences, lived the greatest life worth imitating, and He guides and guards you. Remember Jesus is not limited or bound. He and His Word will accomplish all God intends for them to accomplish in you and through you. The Audaciousness of the Church (Acts 12:24-25) In spite of the killing of Stephen and James, plus a host of other persecutions of the church, the church did not die. The church continued to display its courage and compassion as it kept on glowing, growing, and going much to the dismay of evil. The words "grew and multiplied" mean that the church kept on growing and multiplying. The progress of God's Word could not be stopped. Men and governments might try to stop it, persecute, imprison, and kill those who proclaim God's Word; but their efforts to silence the Word will always be to no avail. God overrules all and always will. God has ordained His Word to be proclaimed, bear fruit, to grow and multiply and it shall be by all those who are truly His. 1. The Additions to the Church (Acts 12:24) In spite of the attacks on the church, it kept growing. 2. The Accomplishments of the Church (Acts 12:25) In spite of the opposition to the church, the church still accomplished this special mission. The church will always accomplish the objective for which God has set out for it regardless of the opposition. 3. The Advancing of the Church (Acts 12:25) In spite of the persecution of the church, it did not stop the providential preparation for the advancing of the church. Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. I want thank you for your faithfulness and continued support on this ministry as we endeavor to take the Gospel of Christ to the uttermost parts of the world. I’m truly grateful for your prayers, sharing our websites articles with others, and the financial support. My wife and I are blessed to be part of such a sweet church family. We sure miss our snowbirds. Can’t wait to have you all back with us. Pastor Torey Blackman. PRAYER: LORD, thank You for Your great love and the Gospel. Help me to do my part in Your Great Commission. I desire to reach others for You, help pave the way for those I will encounter. Continue to open doors at work, school, etc. Help me to never lose sight of the potential and the opportunities that You have given to me. In Jesus name, AMEN! If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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The Presence of God Calms Our Fears (Hebrews 13:5-6)
Hebrews 13:5-6, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” We have nothing to fear—and yet we do fear. We need an answer for our fears. When you’re suffering, you reach for comfort and hope. You reach for some reason to get up in the morning and fight again. You reach for something that won’t make your suffering the dominant experience that troubles your heart. What gives us comfort is knowing that when we pray to the Lord, He is always near. I can’t think of anything that is more comforting than these words: I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. This promise of His presence is found in the following verses: Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; Psalm 23:4; Isaiah 41:10; Matthew 28:20; Hebrews 13:5. The God of the universe, Who created and controls everything, is with us in our suffering, and He will never leave. Nothing comes into our life but what God allows. Sometimes He says, “I will let her go through that. She will draw down upon My strength. Allow it.” God may also say, “No. Don’t allow that. It will overwhelm him. He is not ready.” Nothing comes into your life that God doesn’t already know about. And since He is with you, you don’t have to fear. Often, we want the benefit of claiming “God is with me,” but we spend too little time talking to God who is always with us. Can fear be avoided entirely? Probably not. Remember, God never gave us the spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7).But Scripture gives us a plan that prepares against and responds to fear. Psalm 56:3, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.” God's Word gives us hope when we find ourselves overtaken by fear. Instead of wallowing in it, we can put our trust in Him. We can deliberately turn away from fear and toward the Lord. This affirmation is also found in Isaiah 12:2, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid...” One of the dangers of suffering is that we can fall into God-amnesia, where our suffering overwhelms our knowledge or remembrance of His presence. God is never disgusted by our weakness and He will never turn His back us. He will never leave, and He will never get overwhelmed. He will never grow impatient, He will never be unfaithful. What could be more comforting? Why wait for fears to come before you decide to trust God? Practice trusting Him as a daily exercise. When you do, you may not even notice how many fears you’ll simply walk by, because your attention will be on the One who is not threatened by any fearful thing. Prayer, Father, I confess that sometimes my fears reveal I’m not trusting You as I know I should but trusting in something or someone else instead. Thank you for reminding me just how fragile everything else is compared to other You. Thank You for never leaving or forsaking me. Thank You for never letting me down and always proving Yourself trustworthy. Help me learn to trust You increasingly and banish fears from my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this post has blessed you in any way, Please Share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Finding Joy in Suffering (Romans 5:3-5)
Romans 5:3-5, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. ABC's of Trials Although things are not perfect Because of trial or pain, Continue in thanksgiving Do not begin to blame. Even when the times are hard, Fierce winds are bound to blow; God is forever able-- Hold on to what you know Imagine life without His love; Joy would cease to be. Keep thanking Him for all the things Love imparts to thee. Move out of "Camp Complaining"-- No weapon that is known On earth can yield the power Praise can do alone. Quit looking at the future, Redeem the time at hand. Start every day with worship; To "thank" is a command. Until we see Him coming, Victorious in the sky, We'll run the race with gratitude, Exalting God most high. Yes, there'll be good times; and, yes, some will be bad, but... Zion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!—Unknown We are given insight as to the work of troubles and trials. Most people groan in tribulation, but the perspective that comes from salvation changes one's view of life's experiences to the extent that trials bring rejoicing more than complaining. The idea is because we are now at peace with God, having access to His grace and having standing before Him, we also glory in tribulations. Because of the riches of His grace in saving us, we not only can endure troubles, we can rejoice in them because of our standing in Christ. The Bible teaches that God wants to work a character quality in your heart known as patience. Patience has the sense of ‘endurance’ or ‘perseverance.’ Trouble and persecution, especially for Christ’s sake, produce the added benefit of determination to continue. What are some reactions when troubles come? How do you respond? One of the greatest marks of your faith and your confidence in the Almighty is your endurance, your perseverance when trouble comes. This is a guarantee that not only are we saved now, but we will still be saved when we stand before God. As a believer, I can have full assurance of salvation. What a promise! The love of God changes everything! God's love was shed abroad in our hearts at the time of our salvation. Our hope is backed up by the love of God. This is where it all started (John 3:16). If it were not for the sacrificial love of God there would be no hope of salvation. God’s love is an amazing love that is never depleted! Our hope is a sure thing because it is grounded upon the love of God. Are you experiencing a major setback in your life? Has a health problem sidelined you? Is some obstacle keeping you from reaching your fullest potential? Don’t give up. God can use your hardships to accomplish in you what no one else could ever do. His plan has not been hindered by your limitations — rather, if you trust Him, it may be heightened by them. With His help you can thrive. PRAYER: Lord, thank You for my salvation, and the hope that I have in Christ. Give me a teachable spirit and a willingness to rejoice in the You, no matter what difficulties I have to face. May my life be a testimony to Your goodness and grace, 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 God is Faithful and Satan is Frustrated (Deuteronomy 7:9; James 4:7)
God is Faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9) Deuteronomy 7:9, Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; God is holy and just and faithful. Holiness is His fundamental attribute and Christians should emulate Him and live pure lives. Today, God continues to pour out His blessings on us. Opportunities are opening for the ministry globally. Churches are being planted around the world. People are coming to the Lord. Souls are being won to Christ all over the world. Particularly, people in Muslim countries. All of this we couldn't possibly orchestrate on our own without Him. God's doing it and we get to have a part in His work. Satan is Frustrated (James 4:7) James 4:7, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The existence of a personal Devil is scoffed at by many and doubted by more. Modernists believe evil exists, but not an “evil one.” Satan is often regarded as an impersonal force, an imagination, a medieval invention designed to scare people into the “church,” or an excuse on which to blame our shortcomings. None of this is so, for the Bible clearly teaches the existence of a personal, malevolent, evil one, the Devil. It is the duty of each Christian ‘soldier’ to know as much about their adversary as possible II Corinthians 2:11. Ignorance on this subject is a dangerous thing. The word submit is a military term that means "to yield; arrange oneself under" like a good soldier places himself under one of higher rank. We submit to God by recognizing His authority. Submission means we offer all we are and have to God without any reservations. When we do, he will flee from us. Never in the Bible are we told to attack the devil. He does the attacking; we must do the resisting. The devil wants to destroy your marriage, your church, and all your good relationships, and he does it most effectively through conflict. When we give in to the Evil One, we argue, cause confusion, hurt one another's feelings, and get angry. He loves to get us to do these things, and he is successful when he plays on our pride. He will do this by whispering in our ears things like, "You don't have to put up with this kind of stuff." "Who do they think they are?" "You need to give them a piece of your mind." He tells us what our pride loves to hear. However, we resist him the same way Jesus did—by quoting Scripture. Satan knows his time is short. As a result, Satan scratches and claws. As the ministry impacts more lives, he roars. I John 4:4, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. We have deepened our prayer life, helped each other resolve stress, and kept our eyes fixed on Christ. We must submit ourselves to God and stop trusting in the power of our flesh or human resources to bring victory. We must recognize the authority of God as our king and submit to it. If we stand for God we can see the victory. Satan will not get the victory if we do not compromise with him. We need to seek the Lord with all our heart. God is not hiding. He wants us to come to Him. When we surrender to God and follow Him by faith He will exalt us for His glory. Christ destroyed the works of Satan in I John 3:8, He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. This means He has frustrated, or undone, the works of the Devil. Those in Christ can overcome Satan and live fruitful, productive lives. According to the following Scriptures, Christ sealed Satan’s doom on the cross (Colossians 2:15; Hebrews 2:14; John 16:11). We are on the victory side! Questions to Consider: Are you standing on the truth of God’s Word today? Points to Ponder: You will be tempted and attacked, but you must take your stand and leave the results with God. PRAYER: Father, lead me in this spiritual warfare to stand strong and never surrender. Help me to be wise to Satan’s snares and his temptations. Direct my steps that I may not get sidetracked in pursuing Your will and work. I ask that You would confound the devil and give me courage in times of testing. I know that You are with me and that You will never forsake or fail me. 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 Passionately Pursuing the Knowledge of the LORD (Philippians 3:8-10)
Philippians 3:8-10, Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death. Those who are totally dedicated to the Lord have a passionate love for Him. Paul spoke about his love for the Lord when he expressed his desire to know the Lord Jesus Christ and be close to Him. He demonstrated his love by his obedience to God's Word. When we lose our love and passion for Christ, we are on the path of defeat. This is what happened to the church at Ephesus (Revelation 2:4). Love is strengthened for the Lord by delighting and reading His Word, obeying it, and spending time with Him in prayer. Prayer is the great need in our personal lives. We need prayer more than ever in our families, churches, and in our nation. The following statement is what a prospective school teacher said to her school administration when she was being interviewed for a job. Here is what she said to her interviewers: Let me see if I've got this right. 1. You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them, a love for learning? 2. You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self- esteem and personal pride? 3. You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job? 4. You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams? 5. You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card? 6. You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps? 7. You want me to do all this and then you tell me… I CAN'T PRAY? All throughout the Bible, the Scriptures instruct us to pray. Here are a few: Luke 18:1, And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Romans 12:12, Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; I Thessalonians 5:17, Pray without ceasing. I Timothy 2:8, I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. I Peter 4:7, But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. Points to Ponder: · The purest expression of our love for God is not found in our words but in our actions. · Ask Him to help you show His love to those around you as you live for Him. · God allows us to come to know Him and His love—and the result of that is deep heart knowledge. Questions to Consider: · When it comes to loving difficult people, how am I doing with being patient with God’s timing? · How can you show patient, kind love toward those who irritate you? · How would I say I rate at being loving with those around me? PRAYER: Father, Your love is powerful and patient. Allow me to recognize You, listen to You, and know the blessing that comes from obeying Your voice. I’m choosing today to relinquish control and desire to follow You. I love you, Lord. 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 Little Things (Song of Solomon 2:15)
Song of Solomon 2:15, Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. Song of Solomon describes the love between a man and his wife. In many ways it also pictures the love between Christ and the church. The vines represent the vineyard of growing love between the two lovers. Tender grapes have resulted from their love, but there is a great danger to the continuing of this love. It is the danger of the little foxes. These foxes can spoil the vines on which is located the tender grapes. Therefore, our verse is a call to remove these “little foxes” so that the vineyard of love will continue to prosper. What are the little foxes? They are the seemingly little aggravations which can ruin love. They are little words and acts of conduct which can hurt the growth of love between a husband and a wife. These things seem like “little” foxes, but they can ruin the vineyard of love. The Scriptures warns us to be careful of the little foxes, the small foxes that want to enter into our vineyard and corrupt it. The little foxes represent those things in our lives that seem to be small, insignificant, unimportant, those things that have just gotten a start in our lives. We must be careful letting new things get a grip in our life. Little foxes are very dangerous things, things that often go unnoticed, things that enter in unannounced, things that are unrestrained. Some of the little foxes that can bring great harm to a marriage are the little cutting words of a husband and wife. It does not take a long critical dissertation to disturb the vines of love. Love thrives on compliments not on cutting remarks. Many failed marriages started simply with little unkind words. If we would be honest with ourselves, none of us plan on forsaking God, none of us have considered a specific time to fall by the wayside. The road to corruption never starts with something big, obvious; it always starts with giving heed to the insignificant, the unimportant, and the small. We drop our guard, we think that we have arrived, we feel secure in our own strength. But remember, it is not the lion or the bear that spoils the vines, it is the little insignificant foxes that bring destruction. Points to Ponder: He knows the little foxes. He knows your thoughts, your secret sins and words that have grieved Him. Little things can hurt devotion as well as big things. Take care that you do not let little things ruin your devotion to the Lord, your spouse, your family etc. Questions to Consider: Have you dropped your radar? Have you let the little things find entrance into your life? How many are running free in your life? It may have pricked your heart at first, but you explained it away, you excused it away, you failed to expose it for what it really was. Are you able to admit this? Can you call them out and expel them? PRAYER: Father, often I focus on the few major things rather than focusing on the many little things that are spoiling my relationship with You and my family. Help me to pursue You and daily chase away these little spoilers. 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 Honor God…and He Will Honor You (I Samuel 2:30)
I Samuel 2:30, Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. A profound principle which extends to this day remains: those that honor the Lord, will be honored. Those who have little regard for Him and His precepts will receive little esteem from Him. God blesses those who honor Him and at the least withholds His blessing from those who ignore Him. Leaving his young son in boarding school in Great Britain was the hardest thing Rev. James Dunlop Liddell, Scottish missionary to China, had ever done. But Eric thrived like a hare in the highlands. He studied hard. He loved sports, particularly rugby. He joined a Bible study, faithfully attended church regularly, and became a member of the Crusader Christian Union. He also began his lifelong habit of early morning Bible reading and prayer. Eric advanced to the university, joined the track team, and won races like a thoroughbred. Every week he brought home more prizes and trophies until he soon ran out of storage space. His legs became a Scottish national treasure, and all the world followed him to the 1924 Olympics. All the while, Eric’s Christian life continued on the fast track as well, and his newly-found fame gave plenty of opportunities for preaching and witnessing. At the Paris Olympics, his faith was put to the test when his chosen venue, the 100-meter race, was scheduled for Sunday. Eric, who didn’t believe in competing on the Lord’s Day, opted out. In spite of pressure and criticism, he instead entered the 400-meter run that was on a different day, as the world watched and wondered at this unusual young man. In his dressing room just before the race, Eric unfolded a small bit of paper that had been given to him by the team masseur. It read: “In the old book it says ‘He that honors me I will honor.’ Wishing you the best of success always.” Eric knew the verse very well. It was I Samuel 2:30. He smiled and made up his mind that, win or lose, he would honor God and that he did. I Samuel 2:30, played an important role in the life of Eric Liddell. He and the Lord had honored each other. He won the gold medal. His time that day was 47.6 seconds. He set a new world record. The Lord had blessed him with speed like a stallion. Points to Ponder: God places great merit on faithfulness. He is looking for men and women faithful to Him (Proverbs 20:6; I Corinthians 4:2). Honor God and He will honor you and your faithfulness to Him. Questions to Consider: Are you faithful or a failure in obedience to the Lord? Are you honoring the Lord with your life? How will you choose to honor the Lord today? PRAYER: Lord, I want You to know how important You are in my life, so I come to You now, giving You the first portion of my day. Help me to honor You in attitude and actions today. 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 Watching for Christ’s Return (Matthew 24:42-44)
Matthew 24:42-44, Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your LORD doth come. 43But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 44Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. After several days at sea, the captain of a fishing boat was bringing his boat back home. As the boat neared the shore, the men gazed eagerly toward the dock, where a group of their loved ones were waiting. The captain, looking, identified some of the women, saying, "I see Tom’s Angie, Jonathan’s Candace, Caleb’s Grace." One man was very anxious because his wife was not there. He left the boat with a heavy heart and pressed his steps up the hill, where he saw a light in his cottage. As he opened the door, his wife ran to meet him, saying, "I have been waiting for you!" He replied with a proper rebuke, "Yes, but the other men's wives were watching for them." Those who are totally devoted to the Lord look forward to His coming. It could be today. Are you watching for the Lord's return? Watch means to keep awake; to stay alert; to be watchful and sleepless; to be vigilant. It also carries the idea of being motivated, of keeping one's attention or mind upon a thing. Watching also has the idea of being alert at the right time. It is at night that a person really needs to stay awake and watch for the thief (I Thessalonians 5:4-9). I Peter 4:7, But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. Because He could come at any moment, those who are devoted to the Lord want to be ready for His coming. They don't want to be ashamed when He comes. Until that day, they do their best to serve Him with all their hearts, keep themselves pure, and maintain a right relationship with God and others. God does not operate on our timetable, and Jesus will surely return right on schedule. It is important for us not to be lulled into complacency by the fact that Jesus has not yet returned. Jesus pointed out that such false thinking can quickly lead to bad conduct on our part. Each day of our lives should be filled with a conscious awareness that it may be this day that the Lord returns. This is an exciting time to be a Christian. We might not know the day or the hour of Christ’s return, but we do know it’s going to be soon. As Jesus told His disciples, we need to be watching for His return. We ought to make the most of every opportunity to tell others how they can be saved. And we should be living pure and holy lives so we’re not ashamed when Jesus comes. The Bible is literally being fulfilled before our eyes. That makes me more excited than ever about seeing my Saviour. If we keep eternity in perspective, then we won’t worry as much about things we lack here on Earth. We will resist temptation because we want Christ to find us pure and blameless at His return. An eternal perspective will help us give the Lord the preeminence. Are you ready to meet Jesus? He’s coming sooner than you might think. God doesn’t tell us some things for a reason. He wants us to live each and every day as if that could be the day! Today could be the day. But no one will be able to claim, “I knew it!” We’re all going to be surprised. But not all of us are going to be ready! Are you ready if Christ returns today? Questions to Consider: · Are you watching for the Lord's return? · What evidence in my life would demonstrate that I’m OK with Christ coming back today? · What, if anything, do I need to set aside as a distraction from expecting Christ’s return? Points to Ponder: · Watch and stay ready for the Lord's return. · Keep your eyes open and watch for the signs of Christ's return. · Walk, watch, and work faithfully and wisely before the Lord and others. Prayer: LORD, help me to see anything in my life that would keep me from loving Your appearing. And help me to be more purposeful in keeping my relationships right and my attitude fully expectant of Your return. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen. A Changed Man (Luke 19:8)
Luke 19:8, And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. When Adoniram Judson made preparation to go to Burma, God spoke to his heart about people that he had wronged before he was saved. During his years when he lived in New York City and was indulging in the sinful lifestyle of this world, he had cheated several men out of their money. Adoniram realized that God would not bless his ministry until he cleared his conscience with these men and made restitution. Judson made a trip to New York and sought out the people that he had wronged and asked for their forgiveness. He returned the money that he had wrongfully taken from them and returned home with a new peace and joy in his heart and greater boldness in his speaking. When we look at Zacchaeus, we find he truly repented and his life was drastically changed for the better. He became concerned about those who were stricken with poverty, giving half of his wealth to the poor. He didn't have to do that, but he wanted to help them. He began to use his money as a tool of blessing, focusing on others instead of himself. Zacchaeus was a rich man that did what the rich young ruler refused to do. Also, Zacchaeus wanted to clear his conscience and make matters right with other people. He was concerned about restitution for people he wronged, restoring four-fold what he had taken from others. His restitution was more than what was required of him. A pastor once shared a story when he was in a service. The preacher said there was a meeting in progress at which several women were giving their testimony. One woman kept silent. She was asked to testify but refused. She was asked why and she answered, “Some of these women who have just given their testimony, owe me money, and I and my family have been hungry because we cannot buy food." A few women had no credibility at all because their actions did not back up what they claimed. A Christian's testimony is utterly worthless unless it is backed by deeds which guarantee its sincerity. It is not a simple change of words which Jesus Christ demands, but a change of life. When Zacchaeus testified this to the Lord, Jesus said, "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Restitution is a key proof in convincing others that you have trusted Christ as your Saviour. For most people, all they remember is what you were like before you were saved, especially if you were a cheat. If you go to these people and tell them about Jesus after you are saved, but you have not made offenses right, then you have no credibility. If you seek their forgiveness for wrongs in the past, if you make restitution for financial matters or damages, then you give credibility to what you tell them about what has happened to you. You also create curiosity about Jesus Christ. If you have an opportunity to make things right with God and others, then don't let the opportunity slip away. PRAYER: Father in Heaven, help me to learn from the example of Zacchaeus. May my life continue to be changed and challenged to live a life that brings glory and pleasure to 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 Lessons on Finding & Fulfilling God’s Will (James 4:8) – PART 5
James 4:8, Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. What a wonderful promise! As we seek to get close to God, He will draw close to us. God is always willing to come into closeness with us as we first seek Him. However, He requires for us to first initiate such action. It is called repentance. The inward witness of the Spirit is most clearly heard when you are quiet before Him in prayer. Prayer is like a clean windshield when you are seeking God's will. It allows you to see the road and the signs clearly without distortion or distraction. Prayer is like a rush of brisk air from a rolled down window. Prayer arouses your alertness to the signs. It brings the drowsy 'driver' back to full alertness. It is annoying to attempt to read a sign that is just a bit too far away, or to try to understand the words of someone who is slightly out of hearing range. The problem is distance. Distance complicates communication. In relationships, time spent apart affects communion. When a couple is withdrawn from one other, not enjoying their marriage communion with each other, this will inevitably lead to a lack of marriage communication. On the other hand, it is a pleasure to watch a couple who has grown in their love through the years. They communicate on a level unknown by couples who simply live at the same address. Often one spouse can sense how the other feels about a matter without even having to ask. Such people are able to communicate with each other with the slightest squeeze of the hand, the smallest facial expression, or even a certain glance of the eye. Such is the level of communion desired by the Lord, our personal Guide. He desires that our communion be so close that even the slightest glance of His eye will communicate His will to us. In Psalm 32:8, I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. This guidance is possible only when we are close to the Lord. When our degree of fellowship with Him is intimate so that we are walking by His side, then we will be aware of the slightest communication from the Holy Spirit. Nothing compares or replaces closeness to the Lord. The closer you are to Him, the closer you will be to finding certainty in the knowledge of His will. If you cannot quite hear God's leading, draw a little closer to Him. Keep in mind, that as you draw closer to the Lord, He will draw closer to you as well (James 4:8). Is there an obstacle between you and the Lord right now? Has a failure complicated your hopes of a healthy relationship with God? If you’re ready for reconciliation, Jesus has been waiting. He hasn’t given up on you. He is ready to welcome you and place you into service again. Don’t wait another day to tell Him how much you love Him. Prayer, Lord, I don’t want wander away from You, but if I do, restore me. I long to remain faithful. Thank You for Your patience, timing, and toughness in restoring me, Lord. Lead me to a life of steadfast service to 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 |
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. Archives
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