Baptist City Blog

Saturday, 10/4/15  Matt 26:33-34 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. Always, always, always overestimate temptation’s power and underestimate your resistance.  (Also, telling God that He’s wrong and doesn’t know what He’s talking about probably isn’t very smart....)           Rom 6:23a For the wages of sin is death. What started as a spiritual problem (sin) quickly became a physical one (death.) I’m thinking of alcohol, drugs, illicit sex, gambling, etc. Some physical problems may be solved by correcting the foundational sin (e.g. abusive behavior fixed by dealing with the anger and the lack of forgiveness of the one who’s abusing; a neighborhood’s gang problem by a community revival.)  Sometimes the physical cannot be corrected despite spiritual restoration (e.g. lung cancer caused by cigarettes that started as disobedience; mental problems from drug abuse started by rebellion; the physical effects of a car wreck caused by the sin of drinking; the complications of pregnancy and being a teen parent caused by lust; poor self image and lack of spiritual awareness causing an eating disorder with permanent physiological damage.)  The bottom line is that the current problem may no longer be a spiritual one anymore; the person may not be “bad” anymore; and you and they may have to live with a “new normality.”  Though the person you’re dealing with may appear to have a spiritual affliction, it may be more of a physical one now.

Sunday, 10/5/14  1 Cor 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you (behave like) like men, be strong. Men, don’t lose traditional, old-fashioned manhood. Ladies, compliment and encourage it. Parents, make your boys to be little men, and not the modern, sissy, unisex, wimps that the world is producing.  

Monday, 10/6/14  Ps 119:26 I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. God will listen you you (v26a); will you listen (take time & pay attention to) Him?         1 Cor 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. Here’s a hard one. For mature Christians only. When you’ve been scolded by a superior, be sure to accept it properly and confirm your love towards them, and acknowledge their love towards you. When your pastor, SS teacher, ministry leader gets on you, they do it with some trepidation: after all, you are volunteering...there is a bit of fear of running you off.

Tuesday, 10/7/14  Ps 42:5 ...hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.  “The help of his countenance.” If you want help, this verse indicates that it comes when we’re looking towards His face, and by Bible knowledge and faith, we trust that He’s looking at us.                2 Pet 3:16 As also in all [of Paul’s] epistles...which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Don’t change truth to fit your life; change your life to conform to Scripture. Don’t change doctrine to fit the song you’re writing; change your song. Don’t change child rearing principles and practices to fit worldly societal norms. Don’t change teachings on purity to conform to your lusts. Don’t change your views of right and wrong because of political correctness. Don’t change how you treat people because of peer pressure. Don’t change your church attendance policies because of football or other sports or because of your (in)convenience.           Read Num 20:1-5. Moses and Aaron had huge problems, heartache, complaining followers, legitimate concerns...very burdensome to the leaders. Note that they didn’t speak...they went to God. Leaders/parents:  walk away from your followers/kids and talk to God.

Wednesday, 10/8/14  Ps 119:25 My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. When you get so low that you feel like dying; when you’re face down and feel that everything worthwhile is over and worthless: that’s when you can turn to God and ask for His life. But He’ll still help you through His word.               Mark 1:40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. He besought and begged. (You’ve done that). He submitted and worshiped. (You’ve done that.) And he was willing to live with Jesus’ will/decision...have you done that?          Ps 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. This verse outlines the reason for poor quality Christian living:  ignorance and thoughtless-ness is the devil’s aim. Hence, we get mind numb from the games and TV and silly entertainment. We don’t think anymore. Put down the electronics, pick up a book, pick up THE book, have a deep conversation, THINK, analyze where your life is going, consider: “If I do this, then what will happen in a year?”         

 

Thursday, 10/9/14  1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Any time the talk is philosophical or spiritual or abstract, ALWAYS have you antennae up and be on guard.              Ps 119:41a Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word. I got my allotted share of His morning mercies today. There’s some on the table for you too. Come and get some.                   Ps 119:74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. Does the affection that your buddies feel for you have anything to do with the Lord?

Friday, 10/10/14  Acts 11:17 ...who was I that I could withstand God? Do you really want to “withstand” God? To be His enemy?  Yet (some of) you live in opposition to all His word says and infers. That’s a war you’re gonna regret.  Whatever you’ve been convicted about recently...submit...TODAY.               1 Kings 12:28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto [the people], It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. It’s a sign of false religion to want to limit one’s devotion to God. “God’s not worth it” is the message. You may have a ceiling of commitment or effort towards God, but does your spirit WANT to do more? Does that fact that you won’t give Christ more of you bother you, or are you satisfied with your level?  Religions have ceilings....deep loving relationships with a Person do not.            Ps 119:41-42 Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me; for I trust in thy word. “Mercies.... His word...answering our enemies.” Properly relating to God first thing in the morning facilitates proper interpersonal relationships throughout the day.

Saturday, 10/11/14  2 Cor 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not. Mercy by itself is wonderful. But its full purpose is to enable us to be faithful in advancing for Christ. “Not fainting” indicates exertion and effort and staying with the Christian warfare. We’ve been forgiven to serve again, and more.              Num 20:12 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. God will get angry at leaders very quickly for misrepresenting Him.           Acts 18:15 But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters. Gallio wouldn’t rule in matters in he didn’t have authority over, or in matters of which he was ignorant. Perhaps we could learn this lesson??

Ps 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed... If there was a time when our Lord was hated, political leaders and nations rebelled against His authority, it would be today. If He lived physically again on the earth, He would be condemned and executed.

Ps 3:5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked, for the Lord sustained me. A child of God who daily walks with him has no cause for insomnia or restless nights.

John 11:35 Jesus wept. Our Lord felt genuine hurt, compassion, and heart felt grief for His grieving friends. We need to follow His example when those around us whom we love are grieving or hurting. True compassion is almost a lost attribute among Christians today. The world we live in is looking for someone who really cares.

Josh 15:16 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sopher and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. Caleb, like every father, wanted to make sure his daughter married a real man and he found a way to assure it. We should be as selective, and rear real men in our homes for the sakes of their wives and our grandchildren.

Pro 4:14-15 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass by it, turn from it, and pass away. Identify wicked/evil men or women and don’t go near, or travel their path, or direction.

John 3:20 For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. This is the real reason men refuse the Gospel.