To His Glory

Ever Mindful

2012-02-15T09:06:00.001-05:00

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Faith's Check Book, Daily Entry

C. H. Spurgeon

February 15

Ever Mindful

The Lord hath been mindful of us: he will bless us. (Psalm 115:12)

I can set my seal to that first sentence. Cannot you? Yes, Jehovah has thought of us, provided for us, comforted us, delivered us, and guided us. In all the movements of His providence He has been mindful of us, never overlooking our mean affairs. His mind has been full of us—that is the other form of the word mindful. This has been the case all along and without a single break. At special times, however, we have more distinctly seen this mindfulness, and we would recall them at this hour with overflowing gratitude. Yes, yes, "the Lord hath been mindful of us."

The next sentence is a logical inference from the former one. Since God is unchangeable, He will continue to be mindful of us in the future as He has been in the past; and His mindfulness is tantamount to blessing us. But we have here not only the conclusion of reason but the declaration of inspiration; we have it on the Holy Ghost's authority—"He will bless us." This means great things and unsearchable. The very indistinctness of the promise indicates its infinite reach. He will bless us after His own divine manner, and that forever and ever, Therefore, let us each say, "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"

The four giant-killers of preachers

2012-02-15T09:05:00.002-05:00

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The four giant-killers of preachers--
money, pride, unbridled ambition, and women
--have killed their thousands! (Al Martin)

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Daily Promises

2012-02-15T09:05:00.001-05:00

Blue Letter Bible
February 15, 2012

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1)

How simple! How wonderful! How amazing! That true belief should be all that stands between us and the unquenchable love of God Himself. And better! That it is God Himself who grants us that very faith to believe is too sublime for words! Praise Himpraise Him with your whole and regenerated hearts!

Nothing New

2012-02-15T09:04:00.002-05:00

Insight for Living ...

Nothing New

Posted: 15 Feb 2012 02:55 AM PST

by Charles R. Swindoll
Read 2 Corinthians 12:2–10
Remember that suffering is not new. In what is probably the oldest book in the Bible, the book of Job, we read, "For man is born for trouble, as sparks fly upward" (Job 5:7). Now there's a statement we need to teach our children and grandchildren, starting today. The message they consistently hear is that God has nothing but happiness and success in store for them if they'll entrust their lives to Him. The Bible never promises that! Amazingly, while scraping sores from his diseased and pain-racked body, Job asked, "Shall we indeed accept good from God and not adversity?" He made that statement in response to his wife's advice to "curse God and die." She too was broken from the loss of her children and the misery of watching her husband suffer so terribly. (As a young preacher, I came down too hard on Job's wife. Now I go easier on her. She was grieving, not blaming. She needed God's perspective on her pain.) It was when her husband witnessed how deep her grief was that he responded as he did. He wanted her to realize that God is not a heavenly bellboy, delivering only pleasurable and comforting things to our door. He doesn't exist to make us happy. We exist to bring Him glory.
We live in superficial, skeptical times. When hard times occur you will find scores of newly released titles questioning how a loving God could be so unfair and unjust. It is easy to be confused in one's understanding of God. But He has not changed. His ways have not been altered. As with Job and Paul, He continues to allow suffering to mold us into humble, useful servants.
Throw one of us in a dungeon and we want to talk to our lawyer! Throw those guys in prison, and the world ends up with Pilgrim's Progress, or some other magnificent literary work that endures for centuries, putting our suffering back into perspective. Resist the temptation to rethink God just because hard times come. Look deeper. Cling to Him tighter. Refuse to question His motives. He's doing something great within you. Suffering is nothing new.

http://insightforliving.typepad.com/dailydevo/

Titus - 11

2012-02-15T09:04:00.001-05:00

A Study Of The Book Of Titus.

Lesson 11 Chapter 2:13 – 15

By Pastor Randy Johnson

Verse 13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

I we go all the way back to verse 11 we have a greater understanding of verse 13. "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12.) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” The same grace of God that brings salvation also brings us the teaching to deny ungodliness and live according to Gods word. Therefore it is this same grace that brought the salvation and good works that makes us ready to meet Jesus Christ in His second coming.

a. Christians that do not live godly lives are not ready to meet Jesus in the clouds; because there at that time is judgment. 2 Timothy 4:8 "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." Loving His appearing is looking for Him.

b. However we who are living by Gods grace and Gods word are ready for His “glorious appearing”

c. Paul reminds us in Galatians 5:5 “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.”

“Looking” that is with eager desire. For that glorious appearing.

a. Looking – because we know what is coming on that glorious day. Philippians 3:20 - 21 "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: (21.) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

b. Christ Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, by Him, in heaven, how wonderful and I look forward to seeing my Lord and seeing our prepared place. So yes it is “with eager desire” we await His coming.

c. However not all truly do.

“…of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” our Saviour is the great God.

Verse 14 “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works”

Jesus Christ gave himself on that cross to redeem the lost elect. This is another reason we are looking with eager desire” for His coming, He is our Saviour. John 10:15 “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

a. Galatians 1:4 “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:” – that is from the hold it had on us.

b. Let us all remember God has supplied us all (that is all the saved) with enough grace to deliver us from all evil.

“…that he might redeem us from all iniquity…” – “all” Matthew 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.” By cleansing “all” of their iniquity”
“…and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” – Well Israel of old but here it is the Gentile Christians.

a. The words “peculiar people” means - being beyond usual, that is, special (one’s own) – meaning a people chosen, and redeemed by Jesus Christ.

b. Deuteronomy 7:6 "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth."

c. 1 Peter 1:18-21 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19.) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20.) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (21.) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”

“…zealous of good works” meaning we have a earnest desire to do good works. Because of Gods grace. Everything goes back to verse 11 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation…” brings everything else to us. Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Verse 15 “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

“These things speak…” What things “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation…” that is everything that the grace of God brings to us.

a. John Gill said; “Sound doctrine, the doctrine of grace, the doctrines of salvation and redemption by Christ, of peace, pardon, and cleansing by his blood; these speak out clearly, plainly, publicly, boldly, and faithfully.

b. “…and rebuke with all authority…” it is only with truth that we can rebuke. The truth is our authority to rebuke. Gods grace also gives us the right to rebuke, how can one sinner rebuke another? Because that are living in the grace of God. Mark 1:22 “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.”

“…Let no man despise thee.” The word “despise” means - to think beyond – that is to think beyond the authority of grace and truth. We are not allowed to make the scriptures of private interpretation. 2 Peter 1:20 - 21 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (21.) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."
We must always walk in the truth, there is no room for exception. 1 Timothy 4:11 - 13 "These things command and teach. (12.) Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (13.) Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."

Surely, we would not wish them back again!

2012-02-14T09:15:00.004-05:00

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(J.C. Ryle, "Christ's Greatest Trophy!" 1879)

"I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise!" Luke 23:43

The very moment that believers die, they are in paradise. Their battle is fought; their strife is over. They have passed through that gloomy valley which we must one day tread; they have gone over that dark river which we must one day cross. They have drunk that last bitter cup which sin has mingled for man; they have reached that place where sorrow and sighing are no more! Surely, we would not wish them back again! We should not weep for them--but for ourselves!

We are still warring--but they are at peace!
We are laboring--but they are at rest!
We are watching--but they are sleeping!
We are wearing our spiritual armor--but they have forever put it off!
We are at sea--but they are safe in harbor!
We have tears--but they have joy!
We are strangers and pilgrims--but they are at home!
Surely, better are the "dead in Christ"--than the living! Surely the very hour the poor saint dies--he is at once higher and happier than the happiest upon earth!

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Daily Promises

2012-02-14T09:15:00.003-05:00

Blue Letter Bible
February 14, 2012

And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23)

May His name be exalted forevermore! Christ reigns with complete control over all of the earth and the heavenlies! From the vast universe to the individual lives of His church, all is under His excellent supremacy. In His unsearchable greatness, God supplies all things to His creation, and especially to His children. By His fullness, we have received grace upon grace and blessing upon blessing (John 1:16). Whether by heaven or earth, all things have been made whole by the precious blood of Christ Jesus.

Mercy to the Undeserving

2012-02-14T09:15:00.001-05:00

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Faith's Check Book, Daily Entry

C. H. Spurgeon

February 14

Mercy to the Undeserving

He that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about. (Psalm 32:10)

O fair reward of trust! My Lord, grant it me to the full! The truster above all men feels himself to be a sinner; and lo, mercy is prepared for him: he knows himself to have no deservings, but mercy comes in and keeps house for him on a liberal scale. O Lord, give me this mercy, even as I trust in Thee!

Observe, my soul, what a bodyguard thou hast! As a prince is compassed about with soldiery, so art thou compassed about with mercy. Before and behind, and on all sides, ride these mounted guards of grace. We dwell in the center of the system of mercy, for we dwell in Christ Jesus.

O my soul, what an atmosphere dost thou breathe! As the air surrounds thee, even so does the mercy of thy Lord. To the wicked there are many sorrows, but to thee there are so many mercies that thy sorrows are not worth mentioning. David says, "Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous; and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart." In obedience to this precept my heart shall triumph in God, and I will tell out my gladness. As Thou hast compassed me with mercy, I will also compass Thine altars, O my God, with songs of thanksgiving!

It's Not About You!

2012-02-14T09:13:00.000-05:00

INSIGHT FOR LIVING...

It's Not About You!

Posted: 14 Feb 2012 02:55 AM PST

by Charles R. Swindoll
Read 2 Corinthians 12:2–10
I need to underscore a foundational fact: God's goal is not to make sure you're happy. No matter how hard it is for you to believe this, it's time to do so. Life is not about your being comfortable and happy and successful and pain free. It's about becoming the man or woman God has called you to be. Unfortunately, we will rarely hear that message proclaimed today. All the more reason for me to say it again: Life is not about you! It’s about God.
How can I say that with assurance? Because of Paul's response: "Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong" (vv. 9–10). That's it! He got it too. And he went with it for the rest of his days.
When you and I boast of our strengths, we get the credit, and we keep going under our own head of steam. But when we boast in what He is doing in the midst of our brokenness, inability, and inadequacy, Christ comes to the front. His strength comes to our rescue. He is honored.
Don't miss that point. The very things we dread and run from in our lives are precisely what brought contentment to Paul. Look at the list: I am content when I lose. I am content when I am weak. I am content with insults. I am content when I'm slandered. I am content in distresses. I am content with persecutions. I am content with difficulties and pressures that are so tight I can hardly turn around. Why? "Because when I am weak then I'm strong." Knowing that brought the apostle, ablaze with the flaming oracles of heaven, to his knees. What a way to live your life—content in everything—knowing that divine strength comes when human weakness is evident.
That's what gave the man of grace true grit. It will do the same for us.

Grace That Won't Let Go

2012-02-13T09:45:00.002-05:00

INSIGHT FOR LIVING ...

Grace That Won't Let Go

Posted: 13 Feb 2012 02:55 AM PST

by Charles R. Swindoll
Read 2 Corinthians 12:2–10
This is a good time to correct faulty thinking. It is not always God's will that you be healed. It is not always the Father's plan to relieve the pressure. Our happiness is not God's chief aim. He doesn't have a wonderful (meaning "comfortable") plan for everybody's life—not from a human perspective. Often His plan is nowhere near wonderful. As with Paul, His answer is not what we prayed and hoped for. But, remembering that He is forming us more and more into the image of His Son, it helps us to understand His answer is based on His long-range plan, not our immediate relief.
Thankfully, in the midst of that suffering, He gently whispers, "My grace is sufficient for you" (v. 9). As with Paul, His grace supplies more than we need to endure whatever it is that threatens to undo us. Let me amplify that thought. His grace is more sufficient than your strength. His grace is more sufficient than the advice of any trained counselor or close friend (though God uses both). His grace is sufficient to carry you through whatever your own unique "thorn" may be. His grace—that's the ticket.
Would you like to know why? Because God's power is perfected in weakness (v. 9). What an amazing statement from the Lord! And all this time we thought power was perfected in success. We've been taught all our lives that it is achievement that makes us strong. No. A thousand times, no! Those things make us proud and self-sufficient and independent. Painful thorns make us weak. But the good news is this: when we are weak, He pours His strength into us, which gives an entirely new perspective on pain and suffering, hardship and pressure. Those stresses and strains drive us to our knees. It's at that point our God comes through, takes us by the hand, and by His grace lifts us up.
His grace is sufficient for you too.

http://insightforliving.typepad.com/dailydevo/2012/02/grace-that-wont-let-go.html

He actually chooses affliction!

2012-02-13T06:49:00.001-05:00

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(J.C. Ryle, "Faith's Choice!" 1879)

"By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin." Hebrews 11:24-25

Is there any cross in your Christianity?

There is a common worldly kind of Christianity in this day, which many have--a cheap Christianity . . .
which offends nobody,
which requires no sacrifice,
which costs nothing--and is worth nothing!

But if you really are in earnest about your soul,
if your religion is something more than a mere fashionable Sunday cloak,
if you are determined to live by the Bible,
if you are resolved to be a New Testament Christian--
then you will soon find that you must carry a cross. You must endure hard things; you must suffer in behalf of your soul, as Moses did--or you cannot be saved.

The offense of the cross is not ceased!

God's true people are still a despised little flock.

True evangelical religion still brings with it reproach and scorn.

A real servant of God will still be thought an enthusiast and a fool by many.

If there is no cross--there will be no crown!

Moses left the ease and comfort of Pharaoh's court--and openly took part with the despised children of Israel. In fact, if ever a man seemed to be choosing pain, trials, poverty, distress, anxiety, perhaps even death, with his eyes open--Moses was that man!

Let us think how astonishing was this choice.

Flesh and blood naturally shrink from pain. We draw back by a kind of instinct from suffering, and avoid it if we can. If two courses of action are set before us, which both seem right--we take that which is the least disagreeable to flesh and blood.

But look here! Here is a man of like passions with ourselves, and he actually chooses affliction! Moses saw the cup of suffering that was before him if he left Pharaoh's court--and he chose it, preferred it, and took it up!

Faith told Moses that affliction and suffering are not real evils. They are . . .
the school of God, in which He trains the children of grace for glory;
the medicines, which are needful to purify our corrupt hearts;
the furnace, which must burn away our dross;
the knife, which must cut the ties which bind us to the world.

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Daily Promises

2012-02-12T19:57:00.005-05:00

Blue Letter Bible
February 12, 2012

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:4-5)

How miraculous our salvation! That Christ should die for such a wicked and deceitful people as we. What amazing grace! What abundant mercy makes its home in the nature of the Lord! Rejoice in your salvation, O believer, and live as you are-a true son of the Most High!

A bugbear to frighten children and fools!

2012-02-12T19:57:00.003-05:00

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(J.C. Ryle, "Holiness, Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties, and Roots" 1879)

I believe that the time has come, when it is a positive duty to speak plainly about the reality and eternity of Hell. A flood of false doctrine has lately broken in upon us. Men are beginning to tell us that God is too loving and merciful to punish souls forever; and that all mankind, however wicked and ungodly some of them may be--will sooner or later be saved. We are invited to leave the old paths of apostolic Christianity. We are told that the views of our fathers about Hell, and the devil, and punishment--are obsolete and old-fashioned. We are to embrace what is called a "kinder theology"--and treat Hell as a pagan fable, or a bugbear to frighten children and fools!

Against such false teaching I desire, for one, to protest. I, for one, am resolved to maintain the old position, and to assert the reality and eternity of Hell.

It is a question which lies at the very foundation of the whole gospel. The moral attributes of God--His justice, His holiness, His purity--are all involved in it. Once let the old doctrine about Hell be overthrown--and the whole system of Christianity is unsettled, unscrewed, unpinned and thrown into disorder!

The Scripture has spoken plainly and fully on the subject of Hell.
If words mean anything--then there is such a place as Hell.
If texts are to be interpreted fairly--then there are those who will be cast into Hell.
If language has any sense belonging to it--then Hell is forever.

The drowning of the old world by the flood,
the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah,
the overthrow of Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea,
the judgment on Korah, Dathan and Abiram,
the utter destruction of the seven nations of Canaan--
all teach the same solemn truth. They are all given to us as beacons and signs and warnings--that we may not provoke God. They all remind us that there is such a thing as the wrath of God. They all tell us plainly that "the wicked shall be turned into Hell" (Psalm 9:17).

Settle it firmly in your mind, that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has spoken most plainly about the reality and eternity of Hell. No lips have used so many words to express the dreadfulness of Hell, as the lips of Jesus.
Hell,
Hell-fire,
the damnation of Hell,
eternal damnation,
the resurrection of damnation,
everlasting fire,
the place of torment,
outer darkness,
the worm that never dies,
the fire that is never quenched,
the place of weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth,
everlasting punishment--
these, these are the words which the Lord Jesus Christ Himself employs! Away with the miserable nonsense which people talk in this day, who tell us that the ministers of the gospel should never speak of Hell!

He is the kindest friend--who tells me the whole extent of my danger!
The watchman who keeps silence when he sees a fire--is guilty of gross neglect!
The doctor who tells us we are getting well when we are dying--is a false friend!
The minister who keeps back Hell from his people--is a wicked and cruel man!

What is the use of hiding eternal punishment from the impenitent and the ungodly? Surely, it is helping the devil!

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A Thorn in the Flesh

2012-02-12T19:57:00.001-05:00

INSIGHT FOR LIVING ...

A Thorn in the Flesh

Posted: 12 Feb 2012 02:55 AM PST

by Charles R. Swindoll
Read 2 Corinthians 12:2–10
Sailors on the high seas understand the importance of securing themselves to something sturdy in a fierce gale. You learn to cling to what’s secure in a storm. Paul learned to cling to what he knew to be true about himself and the Lord who held him in His grip.
I see an interesting tension here. While Satan punched and pounded the apostle’s resolve, the Lord’s purpose was to humble him, to keep him from exalting himself. Pride doesn’t reside in the hearts of the broken, the split-apart, the wounded, or the anguished of soul.
Many years ago I read these words: “Pain plants the flag of reality in the fortress of a rebel heart.” Mothers and fathers keeping vigil in the leukemia ward of a children’s hospital do not wrestle with issues of pride. They are humbled to the point of despair.
I’m not qualified to give you the intimate details of how Paul’s thorn affected him. However, he does confess that he begged the Lord on three separate occasions to remove it from him (v. 8). And you know what? We would have done the same. You and I would have prayed and prayed and begged for relief. “Father, please take away the thorn. Lord, I beg of You, remove it. Take this pain away from me.” That was Paul’s response.
I see amazing transparency written in those lines. The world needs more followers of Christ who embrace pain and hardship rather than deny them. How helpful for us to see all this as God’s plan to keep us humble. That can’t be taught in Bible colleges or seminaries. Those lessons are learned in the trenches of life. What people of prayer we would become! How often we would turn to Him. How fully we would lean on Him. And what insights we would glean.
That is precisely what happened as Paul turned again and again to his Lord. And God gave an answer he never expected.

http://insightforliving.typepad.com/dailydevo/

2012-02-12T19:56:00.001-05:00

Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church
1217 Dillon Texarkana, Texas 75501
Celebrating 50 years as a Church of Jesus Christ
October 29, 1961 – October 29, 2011
February 12, 2012
Newsletter Number 354

Brother Randy Johnson, Pastor Brother Ronnie Henderson, Song Director
Pastor E-Mail: sgmbcpastor@baptistsonline.org Web Site: www.baptistsonline.org/sgmbc

"Where The Truths Of God’s Word Have Been Taught For More Than Fifty Years”

You Were Asked To Pray For:

All of Our Military, Their Family’s & All the Civilian Workers in The Middle East, Zee Mink Fuller and Family, Her son’s Bryan Armstrong and Hunter Hackie, Daughter Shannon, and Brother Philip & Sondra Thornsberry, Sister Alice Hoskins, Joyce Gomez , Frank & Sonya Trusty, Bryndon Thomas, Frank & Dawana Reigel, Andrew Preston, Larry Mollette, Larry Mollette II & Family, Kerry Pennington, Kim Poole, Danny & Nita Mollette, Wendell Henderson, Judy Dunn, Martha Gray, Joshua Kidd, Matthew Kidd,, Ronnie Henderson Jr. & Son Kevin Henderson, Jim Stagner, Bro. & Mrs. Hammond, Don & Neil Hammond, Charles Hammond, Archie & Barbara Griffin & son Daniel, Bro. & Sister Bob Keller, Kathy Rosinbaum, Mary Ramsey, Donna Johnson, Fay Johnson, Luann Reynolds, Brother Curtis Pugh, Timothy and Nathan Fails, Jacob Ramsey, Jim & Linda Meier, Brother Manuel Seymour, Letha Langford, Brother & Sister Kelley Hinson and Kelley Lee, Jerry Hughes, Sister Nita Bookout, Justin Bookout, Pastor G. L. Burr, Melody Carr, Janie Capps, Gina Sullivan, Imajo Tracy, Linda Hughes, Roy Lemmon, Mollette’s Daughter & Granddaughter Kristal, Dale Barnes, Keith Johnson, Tammy Hairston, Tommy Lee Walker, Leon Wyckoff, Billy Smith, Linda Mollette – Linda at the thrift store - Shawn - his girls – and Eric, 15 year old boy with cancer, Brooke Thomas, Kimberlee McCool, Ricky McCoy, Robert Wilson, and Bro. Sergey Mochalov and the Churches in Russia.

The Pastors Corner:

Being A Good Example.

Titus 2:7 “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,”

The very first thing every new born Christian should desire and seek to do is to follow the teachings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Every new born Christian should naturally desire to put away earthly things and to become spiritual because of their new nature. It is over time that some if not most newborn Christians loose their desire to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Lords churches. We began to see ways around following the scriptures and soon find ourselves following the secular world instead of God. This proves the Christian to be weak and unusable to God for His service. Now please let me add here that if God desires to use a person He can certainly cause them to repent. However; as Christians we owe it to God; the wonderful God of grace to keep ourselves available to God at all times. God tells us here “In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works…” The word – pattern – here means – a die or a stamp – therefore the word “pattern” means our works are to be embedded into our life as a stamp is hammered into a piece of steel and cannot be easily taken put. The problem so many “Christians” have and especially today is that they are weak and have no roots. They are like a tumble week that blows in every direction with every direction of wind. Beloved as Christians we are to be strong in doctrine, strong in faith, and strong in church love. When a Christian is strong they will have strong works and therefore being a good example for the younger and weaker Christians. The question is “are you a strong Christian”? If the answer is “I don’t know” or “no I don’t think so” then it is time to fix that and become a strong Christian so that others can look at your life and use it as an example for their life. God tells us in Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works..." That we are the workmanship of God (that is our salvation) created in Christ Jesus for a purpose in this life. Now we may all not understand why God saved us and what His purpose is for us, but one thing we all can and must understand is that God saved us all to walk in Christ and his word. Some people are saved just to be good bible believing Christians and others are saved for a multitude of reasons but we are all saved to be good examples for others to see and to follow. If we are not good examples then we have failed God in our Christian purpose.

“… in doctrine…” this is a fact one cannot be a good Christian nor a good example if they are not following and believing absolute truth. Truth is one of the two absolutes to worshipping God John 10:24 “…they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Nothing less will work. One cannot mishandle Gods word and be a good example. "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." 2 Corinthians 4:2 One of the things that make the Christian a good example is them searching Gods word for truth. It is our job to make this a point of life. A good Christian accepts the word of God for what it says and is not ashamed of it. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. “

Beloved are you a good example for the younger and weaker Christians or are you one of the weak ones? Today could be the day for you to step forward and make your life an example for other.

BLESSED IN THE FIELD:

"Blessed shalt thou be in the field" Deut. 28:3

So was Isaac blessed when he walked therein at eventide to meditate. How often has the Lord met us when we have been alone! The hedges and the trees can bear witness to our joy. We look for such blessedness again.

So was Boaz blessed when he reaped his harvest, and his workmen met him with benedictions. May the Lord prosper all who drive the plough! Every farmer may urge this promise with God, if indeed he obeys the voice of the Lord God.

We go to the field to labor as father Adam did; and since the curse fell on the soil through the sin of Adam the first, it is a great comfort to find a blessing through Adam the second.

We go to the field for exercise, and we are happy in the belief that the Lord will bless that exercise, and give us health, which we will use to His glory.

We go to the field to study nature, and there is nothing in a knowledge of the visible creation which may not be sanctified to the highest uses by the divine benediction.

We have at last to go to the field to bury our dead; yea, others will in their turn take us to God's acre in the field: but we are blessed, whether weeping at the tomb, or sleeping in it.

By Charles Spurgeon from his "Faith's Checkbook" series

Church News:

Our Next church Business meeting will be on March 4^th please make plans to attend.

Daylight savings time is March 11 Don’t forget to set your clocks forward 1 hour.

Pastor Johnson will be speaking at a Bible Conference on March 16 – 18 in Oakdale, La. At the Northside Baptist Church. Brother Steve McCool from Sulphur Springs, Texas and Brother Justin Bookout will fill in for Pastor Johnson for the services on March 18^th.

Happy Birthday:

Brother Timothy Fails Sunday February 12

Sister Dawana Reigel Wednesday February 15

Are the Children In?

2012-02-11T09:52:00.003-05:00

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Faith's Check Book, Daily Entry

C. H. Spurgeon

February 11

Are the Children In?

I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring. (Isaiah 44:3)

Our dear children have not the Spirit of God by nature, as we plainly see. We see much in them which makes us fear as to their future, and this drives us to agonizing prayer. When a son becomes specially perverse, we cry with Abraham, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before thee!" We would sooner see our daughters Hannahs than empresses. This verse should greatly encourage us. It follows upon the words, "Fear not, O Jacob, my servant," and it may well banish our fears.

The Lord will give His Spirit; will give it plentifully, pouring it out; will give it effectually, so that it shall be a real and eternal blessing. Under this divine outpouring our children shall come forward, and "one shall say, I am the Lord's; and another shall call himself by the name of Jacob."

This is one of those promises concerning which the Lord will be inquired of. Should we not, at set times, in a distinct manner, pray for our offspring? We cannot give them new hearts, but the Holy Spirit can; and He is easily to be entreated of. The great Father takes pleasure in the prayers of fathers and mothers. Have we any dear ones outside of the ark? Let us not rest till they are shut in with us by the Lord's own hand.

From God's Perspective

2012-02-11T09:52:00.001-05:00

INSIGHT FOR LIVING ...

From God's Perspective

Posted: 11 Feb 2012 02:56 AM PST

by Charles R. Swindoll
Read Romans 8:22–23
Any study of the life of the apostle Paul requires a serious look at the subject of pain. Suffering is not a pleasant subject to explore. Explaining Paul's words to the Romans, John Stott writes, "It is not only our fragile body which makes me groan; it is also our fallen nature, which hinders us from behaving as we should. Our groans express both present pain and future longing. Some Christians, however, grin too much (they seem to have no place in their theology for pain) and groan too little."
The man has grown weary of the perpetual Christian grin—frankly, so have I. If you groan and allow your countenance to reflect any measure of inner turmoil, people frown at you judgmentally, as if to suggest you're not walking in the Spirit. Don't get me wrong. I find nothing offensive about Christians laughing. I wrote an entire book affirming that God's people need to laugh more. Laughter demonstrates authenticity in our lives. I simply believe there's no need to glue a permanent Cheshire grin to our faces, lest we look like we're not living a victorious Christian life. If a fellow believer tells you he's going through a particularly tough time, I urge you not to insist he smile. (I tell the folks at the church not to ask me to listen to one of my tapes on joy when they notice I'm feeling down.) Don't urge people to sing along with you on some tune you think they should be singing. Sometimes we just don't feel like singing or smiling. After all, God gave us more than one emotion on purpose.
My desire is to help equip you for what life will inevitably sling across your path. I understand you may be bearing a burden or heartache, the likes of which I've never known. You may be living with pressures or some debilitating physical disease or emotional pain I couldn't even begin to imagine. In almost four decades of pastoral ministry, I've often seen the evidence of inner turmoil surface on the faces of God's people. In those times, when I feel at a loss to offer encouragement, I am most thankful for the Scriptures. In God's Word we not only discover His will for our lives, we find words of genuine comfort for those times when life comes unglued.
So be careful not to grin too much and groan too little.

http://insightforliving.typepad.com/dailydevo/