Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 8/31/14  John 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. Just a reminder that we should NEVER make major decisions when we’re ill, depressed, hurried, confused, overwhelmed, or under prayed.           Mark 10:2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? Tempting him. And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?  How did Jesus answer a spiritual question? (Some rules of Bible interpretation)  ¹He referred back to the Bible. It’s elementary, but as BIBLE BELIEVING CHRISTIANS, shouldn’t we be very quick to look at what He’s got to say on any subject?  ²He then used all of the Scripture on a subject. He went beyond their hobby verse. See what ALL that God says on a topic.  ³He then referred back to the first mention of a doctrine/truth.  Go back to the original intent.  ⁴He then drew proper conclusions based on what God said.

Monday, 9/1/14  Ps 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? When was the last time that you honestly, earnestly prayed this? When was the last time you presented yourself and truly asked Him to work on you? Today is as good of a day as any...            Mark 16:14 Afterward he appeared unto the 11 as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. To not believe another’s testimony re: things that God has promised is unbelief and hardness of heart.  For example:  “God answered this prayer!!” “No, it was just coincidence.”  Or, “Listen to what God spoke to me about in my Bible this morning...” “I doubt God spoke to someone as wicked as you.”  “I believe God called me to serve Him.” “It was just an emotional service.”  “Sweetheart, God wants us to give that missionary a $1000.”  “No He didn’t!! We NEED that money for what we have planned next month.”

Tuesday, 9/2/14 Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and to teach. Are you doing the Christian life? Are you teaching the Christian life? Without two “yes” answers, then it must be concluded that you’re not like Christ.            Ps 119:11 (I’ve had this verse committed to memory for about 30 years, and I saw something new last week that I’d never seen before.) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. David hid God’s word in his heart because ([so] that) he wanted to be free from his sin. Rate yourself, on a scale of 1 to 10, how badly do you REALLY want to be free from your sin? Is it a WANT or a WISH?  Most of us KNOW the answer about how to rid ourselves of our sins...we just don’t REALLY want to. (I’m guilty!!)

Wednesday, 9/3/14  1 Sam 9:6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God...let us go thither... This was not a “spiritual” matter, yet he asked advice. Get in the habit of getting advice from older, wiser, more spiritual people:  SS teacher, pastors, senior saints, etc.         In Ezekiel 38-39 and Revelation 20 Russia is clearly mentioned in the end time prophecies. Rev 9:16 refers to an army of 200 million, and Rev 16:12 refers to the kings of the east, so it seems that China is mentioned. America, per se, isn’t really mentioned. She is hinted at, but not really specifically mentioned. I think political Babylon and the first headquarters of the Anti-christ is New York City.  The Anti-christ heads up the western confederacy (basically NATO) initially which defeats the Russians and the Chinese in WWIII about the mid-point of the Tribulation period.  (I think America is effectively destroyed then too.) Then, the Anti-christ proclaims himself as God and rules the world from Jerusalem for the final half of the Tribulation.  So, realistically, America will continue downward from its historical place as a leading nation. It will devolve into one of several...mediocre...second class countries.  Sorry to rain on your political parade...but basically, Pres. Obama and his types will continue to succeed in their destruction of all that we know.  Hallelujah though....we’re citizens of Heaven first, and America secondly!!!

Thursday, 9/4/14  Ps 9:1 I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. How often do we praise half-heartedly? (No bubbly joy; no tears; no voice; no song; no specifics)?             John 20:26 And after 8 days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus...and said, Peace be unto you. Jesus will show up in your darkest hour. He will come with the peace you want, but to get it, you must receive Him (and His means and methods)...when you think you need something else. This is unfortunate for those who only want Christ’s benefits, but not Christ.  Too many want His products (happy marriage, blessings, good kids, internal peace, etc.) but don’t want Him. Don’t be one of those.

Friday, 9/5/14  Ps 90:3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. For those praying for a loved one who is off in sin:  ¹God may very well let them get to the edge of disaster before acting.  ²And His acting may just be a reminder to their heart.  ³The turning back is still their choice, not God’s.         Ps 12:1-4 Help Lord, for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak vanity every one with his neighbor: with flattering lips, and with a double heart do they speak. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us. Note that the godly and faithful were failing and ceasing; the godly spoke vanity, were proud, and were independent.  For those of us who get distressed over people whom we taught or those that we feel “should know better” acting wrongly, realize that this phenomenon is not new, nor is it probably caused by any lack or failure on our part.  Our students have their own spiritual battles to fight, and many of them will be casualties:  keep helping the next one in line, and pray for & reach out to the former ones.

Saturday, 9/6/14  Ps 13:6 I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Whatever else God has done/not done to or for us, when everything is considered, our situation is bountiful!! Amen!!              Acts 7:35 This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? The same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. In time, man’s opinions of you and me will be meaningless, and only what God thinks will matter. So live for Him and according to His rules.

Josh 9:9 They said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and al that he did in Egypt. We need to be very careful whom we join, align with, make treaties with as believers and as a nation. We need to consult God’s word, not human intuition.

Ps 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. We need to know God’s words and hate every false way, but love and not hate people.

Josh 11:20-24a It was of the Lord to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel to battle, that he might destroy them utterly. We shouldn’t be disturbed over the enemies in our lives; God knows what He’s doing, what their fate is, and our attitude toward them.

Ps 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. To the degree we love His word will determine our disposition and attitude toward others.

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created. None other deserves such accolades and high esteem. We must never lose focus of our purpose for being here.

Ps 121:2-3 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Our protector is an eternal God Who never gets tired, or is taking a nap when we need him.
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