Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 3/22/15  Rom 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. Name your 2 biggest sins. Come up with 5 ways that you are “making provision” (opening a door) for them. (Ask for others’ input. Tell them you’re advising a friend on cleaning up their sin.)       Luke 1:8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course... Keep in mind that whatever you do in Christian service is done before God. So...are you working hard? Diligently? “As unto the Lord”? He sees every mistreatment of His kids, every misappropriation of His material; every cut corner or padded expense or shaved hours.

Monday, 3/23/15  Ps 59:3 ...the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin. It’s a sad thing: some people just will never like you. ¹Realize the fault is theirs, not yours.  ²Realize it’s a sin like any other.  ³Be sure to react scripturally to their sin.  ⁴Be sure you have nothing for which you need to apologize.               Pro 21:12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. What is to be our relationship/actions toward the wicked and/or unsaved?  ¹Don’t condemn them. We’ll agree with God’s decrees and judgments later, but it’s not time for judgment, and the offenses aren’t against us, but against Him.  ²Learn lessons from them. (What not to do.)  ³Protect yourself from adapting their character and philosophies.  ⁴Love them, unconditionally, like God.  ^5If they’re saved and wicked, don’t socialize with them. (Note: developing a relationship with them for the purpose of restoring them to God is not socializing. Be cautious though: refer to #3.)  ⁶If they’re unsaved, don’t shun their presence unless you have to: again, developing a relationship so as to help them get to God is good. Jesus ate with sinners. Was alcohol served at dinner? Were off-color jokes/stories told around Him? Dunno...but He obviously didn’t partake of wrong in order to do right.

Tuesday, 3/24/15  Are you dealing with overwhelming grief, problems, and/or despair?  Ps 18:4 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid.  ¹You’re not the first to endure that.  ²Your situation isn’t the worst in history.  ³You WILL get through it...or go to Heaven: yeah...you win either way.            Josh 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law... Are YOU strong enough and brave enough to simply obey God? Or will you bail out and take the easy, wimpy way out and hide behind the cloak of... “Well, I just don’t agree...” or “They’re all hypocrites at that church...” or “That’s a cult that I grew up in!!” or some other twist of words to justify your indulging in your fleshly lusts? (If this makes you mad...there’s a reason why! Sorry...you know I tell it straight.)

Wednesday, 3/25/15  Josh 1:17b ...only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. Leaders (pastors, ass’t pastors, principals, bus captains, SS teachers, PARENTS, etc.) your followers need and expect and have the right to demand that God be with you...Is He?               Matt 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, IF it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. Peter wondered if it really was Jesus, and then he set the World’s Water Walking record. But Jesus had already said it was Him, so Peter was already doubting the word of God, yet God rewarded his little faith. It’s not the size of our faith, it’s the object of it that matters. (Reread that statement.) Faith is like electricity. Terrorists use the little current from a cell phone to explode thousands of pounds of explosives. Your teeny-tiny faith can move mountains. Quit looking at faith and look instead at the object of the faith.

Thursday, 3/26/15  Ps 62:5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation (hope) is from him. Too often we look for and wait for others to give us approval and recognition and praise. Grow to the point of the psalmist here.              Ps 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. Would you be comfortable with your spouse, Pastor, kids, or SS class members hearing every word you’ve said the last 7 days along with every thought? Maybe this verse needs to become a common prayer of yours and mine.

Friday, 3/27/15  Pro 23:19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. A reminder that parents, specifically the dad, is to be the primary instructor about the things of God: NOT the Christian school or the SS or the Pastor. Dad: make them as spiritual as you, and then help them go beyond you.            Ps 22:23a Ye that fear the Lord, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him. A proper attitude of fear and respect toward God’s name, power, and holiness produces love and gratitude and admiration, and it sparks praise and service.

Saturday, 3/28/15  Ps 48:10b ...thy right hand is full of righteousness. We usually come to God wanting His stuff, His money, or His health (for ourselves or others.) He’s holding righteousness...did you ever ask for holiness in your thoughts? words? parenting? marriage? desires?                Ps 23:1 is often a comforting verse, The Lord is my shepherd..., but the sheep don’t always want what is best, so the shepherd uses sheepdogs (who look a lot like the enemy), and a staff (“mean ol’ shepherd doesn’t love me”) and a schedule (“But I wanna eat now, not keep walking!”). If you’re saved, the Lord IS your Shepherd...like it or lump it. (Read v2.)

- It is a little foolish to ask God to give you the answers to your problems if you refuse to go to church where the answers may be preached today. God is not going to write them in the sky my friend.

- We blame and criticize the parents of kids who have turned away from God, because we think that our kids turning out right (for the moment) has more to do with us than with the grace of God. Be careful. Don't take credit for what God hath wrought.

- The quickest way to align yourself with Satan is to slander another believer.

- Three simple thoughts for today:

* Our sin? No condemnation.

* God's love? No separation.

* God's mercy? No limits.

                          That should keep you rejoicing.

When you're delivered from a trial, do you yawn and “Ho Hum" or even act like, Barney Fife, “Well, ya know Andy, I knew all along it was ________"; or do you worship and thank God for who He is?  Matthew 14:24, 33 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Rom 4:6 Even as David describeth the blessedness of the man unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works... Thank God for imputed righteousness without works. All because of Jesus’ willingness to endure punishment for all our sins.

So, you want to be a pioneer? That's fine. As long as you're okay with being face down in the mud with all those arrows in your back. It's better to listen to those who've gone before you! Pro 13:1 A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. Pro 15:5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

Pro 16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Self-control is superior to and more admirable than physical strength or military might.

Ps 145:15 The eyes of all wait upon thee: and thou givest them their meat in due season. God’s timing is always right and it’s always done in due season.

Ps 147:11 The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy. We need to find out what pleases our God and work on giving Him pleasure in our lives.