Baptist City Blog

Sunday, 12/20/15  John 4:6, ...Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well... Basic doctrine: Jesus, on earth, was 100% human. Though He was still God, He did not live and act and exist as God but like you and I do. He endured all of the characteristics of a human body just like we would.              Matt 8:2, And, behold, there came a leper, and worshipped him, saying... Yes, the leper was about to ask Jesus to heal him, but in worshipping first, he acknowledged that He was God, and submitted to His will vs. his own desires. Are you willing to do that in your problem?

Monday, 12/21/15  Ps 118:1, O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever. Evidences of His mercy: 118:5, answered prayer (ye have not because ye ask not); 118:6, constant presence (talked with Him today?); 118:7, support (He’s aware of you; are you of Him?)             Ps 118:1, O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good... Why/how is He good? “Because his mercy endureth for ever.” What is “mercy”? It is not giving offenders what they deserve with the intent of promoting good relations. Are you “good” to your spouse? Your kids? Employees? Boss? Pastor? Friends? Neighbors?

Tuesday, 12/22/15  Deut 20:1, When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. Practical application: when facing something tough, stop, and remember what God has done for you.           Ps 118:2-3, Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever. What are these verses telling us to do? Be aware of God’s mercy, acknowledge it, and publicize it. (We acknowledge and publicize our gripes, our wants, and the good things we thing about...why not God’s mercy?)

Wednesday, 12/23/15  Pro 21:4, An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked is sin. A reminder that most sin is a heart issue and not an overt, outward act. (Now, the heart produces the outward act, that constitutes a 2^nd sin.) So clean up the areas that everyone can see as well as the ones only you can see.            Acts 20:20, And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you...  What would motivate a preacher to withhold profitable teaching? I think fear of rejection.  1) Profitable isn’t synonymous with pleasurable.  2) The listener in today’s service can cause the pastor to shortchange the audience next service.  3) Courage, attentiveness, and spirituality are as needed in the pew as in the pulpit.  4) Support, in an obvious way, your pastor, even if he’s stepping on your toes.

Thursday, 12/24/15  John 10:28, And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish... Eternal life explained: it simply is a product with a lifetime warranty. That the Merchant (God) would give such a guarantee indicates high quality merchandise and brings calm assurance to the consumer (us). Once saved; always saved.           Matt 9:2b, ...they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus...said,...Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. If you’re forgiven by God, that is to be enough to put a permanent smile on your face despite whatever circumstances you’re enduring. It’s not stated, but I wonder if the man’s reaction to the command to be of good cheer had any bearing on whether he got healed.

Friday, 12/25/15    Ps 94:11, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity. Our thoughts are vain, our hearts are deceitful and corrupt...how in the world can we be arrogant and condescending to anyone, especially God?          Obad 15, For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen: as thou hast done, it shall be done unto thee: thy reward shall return upon thine own head. I’m not glad about this, but God will execute wrath and judgment on those who are against Him, the heathen. The Babe in the manger is the great Delineator of history. He draws the ultimate line in the sand. You’re either with Him or not; a child of God or not; saved or not; born again (scripturally) or not; a single heartbeat away from Heaven or not. What better day than the Saviour’s birthday to have your spiritual birthday? Message me if you are not TOTALLY sure that you’re 1 heartbeat removed from Glory. And merry Christmas!!!

Saturday, 12/26/15  Deut 29:5, ...your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. Lesson: God can extend the life of your stuff (“ye have not because ye have not.”) Pray over your car, appliances, furnace, clothes, etc. (And give thanks...)                Obad 17, But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness... Jesus saves all those who come to Him via the way of faith in Jesus without works. He delivers from the “wages of sin [which] is death.” But the end game is holiness, or Christlikeness. Do you have a heart’s desire to be holy? Does sin in your life frustrate you? Only you can answer, but if there’s no desire for holiness, no mourning over ongoing sins, perhaps there was no deliverance.

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- Life is a gift and God gave you that gift for a reason. You have a purpose. You are special. You are loved. Never forget that.

- No pain – no gain.  No suffering – no glory.  No travail – no birth.  No fire – no light.  No tribulation – no patience.  No valley – no mountain top.  No cross – no crown.

- Human wisdom would pick Moses at his peak; heavenly wisdom picked Moses at his lowest.

- It is one thing to be sealed and indwelled by the Spirit – it is another entirely to be led, enabled, instructed and empowered by the Spirit. Every Christian enjoys the former; very few experience the latter.

- Never make a decision when your decision maker is broken.

- It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves. - Edmund Hillary

- God uses suffering as a whetstone, to make men sharp.

- Mary was not perfect. She was pliable. God used this young girl to bring about the greatest expression of His love to man. The least I can do is be pliable enough to let Him use me to share the story.

- Living life to its fullest is accomplished by living one full day at a time.

- If you are looking for the meaning of Christmas under a tree you best look to the One hung on a tree!

- Anything a child of God receives above missing Hell is a bonus!

- Do not be like the child who is more excited about the wrapping than the gift. Be sure you are more excited about the Savior than the wrappings of Christmas. 

- You become a victim when someone hurts you; you stay a victim when you refuse to forgive them.

- If you have been honest, and paid your bills, but have nothing left to spend on Christmas, then you can give yourself and your family the priceless gift of INTEGRITY! You, my friend are rare and rich!

- Did you know that bruised cantaloupes can be the sweetest cantaloupes? And some of the sweetest Christians have also been bruised. I'm of age now where I actually choose the bruised over the beautiful! Just chew on that thought!

- I can assure you, nothing ever goes well for anyone who despises his birthright. There is much wisdom in God's desire for us to learn to give thanks in our circumstance in life. It may be unpleasant, at the time, but if we allow God to use it to build us into a better person to bring honor and glory to Him and His faithfulness in the midst of our circumstance we will be much better off.

- The worlds’ leaders RULE while God’s leaders SERVE!

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- Pro 21:3, To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Being a balanced well-rounded person who has discernment and does what's right is much better than just doing “whatever you feel like"; and having to make amends, say your sorry and/or ask for forgiveness later!

- This must be pretty important to God: he writes it twice in the same chapter. If you deceive people, what help do you think God will be in YOUR time of trouble?! Pro 20:10, 23 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord. Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.

- All suffering is not bad. Some suffering is meant to lead us to obedience. After obedience, the suffering turns to joy. Heb 5:8, Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. There are times that our stubbornness extends unnecessary suffering. However, in special circumstances, our suffering keeps us in the presence of Christ. I suppose that we are the students and Suffering is our teacher.

- Why did Jesus come to earth? ...the Son of man came....to give his life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28 & Mark 10:45. Definition of a ransom:  “a sum paid for the pardon of some great offense and the discharge of the offender; or a fine paid in lieu of corporal punishment.”

- Why did Jesus come to earth?  Matt 1:21, And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

- Bible thoughts! Ps 24:8, Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle." We have absolutely nothing to fear, because our God is in charge! He is still sitting on His throne! Woohoo!

- Jesus descended from...Tamar who seduced her father-in-law...Rahab who was a prostitute...Ruth who was born as a result of incest...Bathsheba who committed adultery. Great things can come from the lives of people who, though seriously flawed, humble themselves and allow God to bring about His Divine purpose through them. Now that should make us all rejoice a little more on this Christmas day.

- He came as a helpless baby to save a helpless race.
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