Baptist City Blog

Surviving Financial Famines

Genesis 41:33

"Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt."

One of the most financial savvy men in the Scriptures was Joseph. Where he got this wisdom from I do not know, but it was very obvious that he had the mind of God when he advised Pharaoh. Had Pharaoh not listened to Joseph when he interpreted the dream, the greatest humanitarian disaster of all time would have happened. Let me show you the financial advice that Joseph gave and how it applies to your personal finances.

Put Up or Shut Up

Genesis 31:37

"Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both."

Jacob found himself in a very precarious situation. His father-in-law accused him of stealing his gods and insinuated that he had taken cattle. This was no light accusation. Though we know Jacob's character had marks of deceit, he seemed to grow out of it after he got married. His name was on the line with this accusation. Jacob did the right thing by going straight to the source of the accusation and told him to either put up or shut up.

The Reward of Faith

Genesis 49:28

"All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them."

The life of Jacob is one that started in much turmoil but ended in serenity. Between the time when he exercised faith and the time of peace, there were many mistakes and battles that he fought. When he bought the birthright, that was an exercise of faith. He believed God's promise that his father told him about, and that was why he exercised the faith to purchase the birthright. That exercise of faith was not realized immediately, and at many times that exercise of faith may have seemed futile. Yet, God always honors faith. In spite of the many mistakes he made in his life, his act of faith was finally realized as his life ended in blessings and peace.

Impeccable Dependability

Genesis 21:1-2

"And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him."

There are very few things in life upon which you can depend. As soon as you think you can depend upon someone or something they or it lets you down. When you depend upon a person, you are depending upon someone who will let you down because they are sinful. When you depend upon an object, it will eventually break down because no object works flawlessly. Trying to find something or someone upon which or whom you can depend will lead to a failed search.

FBC Bulletin

The 12/21/14 FBC Hammond bulletin is now up at Baptist City.

Christmas...

Two sermons by Bro. Hyles for the week of 12/14/14 are now up at www.baptist-city.com.
The Christmas musical "Sing We Now of Christmas" which includes a message by Pastor Wilkerson is also available now.

Bible Thoughts by Terry Hedderman

Sunday, 12/14/14 Another reason we don’t pray: pride. Ps 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God. Solve pride by directing your thinking; by fasting; by body position: lay face down and remind yourself you’re made of dirt, and are filthy. Try it.... Ps 119:158 I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word. Do you ever hurt because God must hurt at sin? Do you ever hurt for the people who suffer because of their sin and its consequences?

I Am Thy Shield

Genesis 15:1

"After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."

Abram had obeyed God and stepped out by faith and left his father's house. Abram did not know where this journey of faith would lead, all he knew was that God was going to make of him a great nation. It did not take long on this journey of faith before he faced his first battle.

By-the-Way, Give Thanks

Psalm 136:1

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

I'm afraid Christians oftentimes are forgetful to give thanks to God for all that He has done. God's goodness and mercy is exhibited to us in so many ways that we frequently forget to thank Him. Most of the time, our thankfulness to God is a "by-the-way" moment. Instead of immediately showing our gratitude to God, after basking in the moment of His goodness and mercy we remember to thank Him when thankfulness should have been our first reaction. We have to be careful that we don't become so accustomed to God's goodness and mercy that thankfulness is only a "by-the-way" moment.

Keeping a Passionate Prayer Life

Hebrews 10:19

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,"

Staying passionate about something that you can do everyday or some place you regularly visit is no easy task. I was preaching in the Washington, D.C. area and the pastor asked me and another preacher if we wanted to go and see some of the sights of the city. I rarely do this, but I wanted to this time because of the meaning of many of those sights. As this pastor drove us around, we were discussing the meaning of each sight he was taking us to when he said that it is difficult to keep the passion about them because he grew up around the city. This is certainly no indictment of the pastor, but it is the reality of human patterns.