Lord's Day Thoughts

I thought that I might share a select group of scriptures each Sunday rather than a devotional thought in the way that I do throughout the rest of the week. I hope they encourage you in your walk with the Lord, and maybe you might be able to use some of them to encourage someone else in their walk this week.

Remember, O LORD, Your tender mercies and Your lovingkindnesses, For they are from of old. Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness' sake, O LORD. Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, And the humble He teaches His way.
(Psa 25:6-9)

Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; My eye wastes away with grief, Yes, my soul and my body! For my life is spent with grief, And my years with sighing; My strength fails because of my iniquity, And my bones waste away. I am a reproach among all my enemies, But especially among my neighbors, And am repulsive to my acquaintances; Those who see me outside flee from me. I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. For I hear the slander of many; Fear is on every side; While they take counsel together against me, They scheme to take away my life. But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my God."
(Psa 31:9-14)

For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications When I cried out to You. Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, And fully repays the proud person.
(Psa 31:22-23)

The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; Neither shall it deliver any by its great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.
(Psa 33:13-20)

My eyes are ever toward the LORD, For He shall pluck my feet out of the net. Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, For I am desolate and afflicted. The troubles of my heart have enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses! Look on my affliction and my pain, And forgive all my sins.
(Psa 25:15-18)

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, "Seek My face," My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the LORD will take care of me. Teach me Your way, O LORD, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
(Psa 27:7-14)

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Do You Have an Ear for the Things of the Spirit?

You hear people talking about having an ear for music, but a more important question would be, "Do you have an ear for the things of the Spirit?"

"What's that you say?" "Things of the what?"

Jesus says in His seven letters to the churches, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says"

That should tell us that not everyone has an ear to hear the things of the Spirit. In fact, 1 Corinthians 2:14 says that the natural man cannot accept the things of the Spirit of God, neither can he understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

All I can say to this, is that each of us better make sure that we have the "ears" we need to hear the words of the Holy Spirit.

The reason for this is that it is the Holy Spirit that brings us into fellowship/communion with God. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. (2Co 13:14)

The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to do His work in us.

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
(Heb 4:12)

So is your heart able to hear the Spirit of God? Is He able to speak to you through God's Word, or does the seed of God's Word hit stony ground when it lands on your heart?

On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" (Mat 13:1-9)

"Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
(Mat 13:18-23)

So if you're having a spiritual hearing problem, it's probably not wax in your ear, but wax in the soil of your heart. May you hear the Spirit of God, may your heart be fertile soil for the seed of God's Word, and may you bear much fruit.

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Now Let Us Have a Little Talk with Jesus

Communication is vital to a healthy relationship. Right?

So how is your communication with the Lord going? I'm particularly interested in how your communication has been if you have had any issues with the Lord lately. What? Issues with the Lord? Those that have walked with the Lord over the years, know exactly what I'm talking about. We expect a lot from Him, and sometimes we can feel abandoned, ignored, disappointed, and yes, even a little put out with Him. What do you do when you are having these feelings? Do you talk with Him about it?

Just as in human relationships, we either address the issue with Him head on, or we avoid it and pretend there isn't an issue.

Holly Weeks wrote an article on communication in the Harvard Business Press and said the following: "stressful conversations carry a heavy emotional load. Indeed, stressful conversations cause such anxiety that most people simply avoid them. Yet . . . avoidance usually only worsens a problem or a relationship."

The Bible says David had a heart after God. Here are a few of his conversations with the Lord.

"How long, LORD? Will You hide Yourself forever? Will Your wrath burn like fire? Remember how short my time is; For what futility have You created all the children of men? What man can live and not see death? Can he deliver his life from the power of the grave? Selah. Lord, where are Your former lovingkindnesses, Which You swore to David in Your truth? (Psa 89:46-49)

"How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?" (Psa 13:1-2)

David was not disrespectful, but he also was willing to be up front with the Lord about his feelings. We have a tendency to avoid God when we are not happy with Him, and this is the worst thing we can do. We should talk to Him. I'm not talking about complaining, as the Word of God tells us how grating that is to Him. And I'm not talking about refusing to praise Him, as the Word of God commands us to praise Him at all times. I'm just talking about keeping the communication going between the two of you, even in the times when you might not be particularly happy with Him about something. The Word of God tells us that He does care, and is full of compassion. (e.g., Psalm 111:4, Matthew 9:46).

Below are some words from an old gospel song by Cleavant Derricks called, "Just a Little Talk with Jesus":

I may have doubts and fears, my eyes be filled with tears,
But Jesus is a friend who watches day and night;
I go to Him in prayer, He knows my ev'ry care,
And just a little talk with Jesus makes it right.

Now let us have a little talk with Jesus.
Let us tell Him all about our troubles.
He will hear our faintest cry
And He will answer by and by.

Your God cares, He is a good listener, and He will answer you by and by.
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Doing the Will of God

Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Col 4:12)

The Bible doesn't say much about Epaphras, but he was a prayer warrior that knew how important it was for every brother and sister in Christ to be standing squarely in the will of God.

Doing the will of God is what distinguishes us as the family of God. Everyone else in the world is bustling about doing their own thing, but the family of God should be bustling about doing the Master's business.

Jesus said, "For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." (Mar 3:35)

King David served as king because it was the will of God (Act 13:36). Christ saved us (i.e., delivered us) because it was the will of God (Gal 1:4). Paul served as an apostle because it was the will of God (1Co 1:1). So what is the will of God for your life?

If you're not sure, then you might want to start by offering yourself up to God as a living sacrifice, and telling Him that you are willing to do whatever it is that He wants you to do.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom 12:1-2)

Sometimes we are so busy trying to accomplish the things pertaining to this life that we lose sight of the things pertaining to the next life.

Just remember, that wherever that is, the best place for you is right smack dab in the center of God's will for you.

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.

Now that's what I call a Good Shepherd!

In the gospel of John, chapter 10, Christ presents Himself as the good shepherd. But He is a very interesting kind of shepherd, isn't He? In fact, He said that He gives His sheep ETERNAL LIFE! Not even death itself can pluck them out of His hand.

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. (John 10:28)

The Greek word 'tis' in this verse is translated by most English Bibles as "anything" or "anyone", but actually inlcudes both of these. It literally means "any". [To remember this Greek word, just think of the song, "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus"]

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone, anything, anybody, any force, any entity, any being; neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, shall snatch them out of my hand. - Pastor B's translation of John 10:28

This good shepherd is not just some good teacher that has nice things to say about how to be a good Jew, or how to be a loving neighbor. This good shepherd gives His followers eternal life!!

It amazes me how there are still so many people out there that don't believe Jesus presented Himself as God. The Jews of His day understood that He did so, for they accused Him of blasphemy and made several attempts to stone Him.

After declaring to the Jews that He was the good shepherd that gave His sheep eternal life, and telling them that He and the Father were one, "the Jews took up stones again to stone Him."(Joh 10:29-31)

The first record of them doing this was in John 8:57-59 when Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I AM".

Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. (Joh 8:57-59)

I love going through the gospel of John on Wednesday nights because it is such a powerful book. Tune in tonight at 89.3 FM at 7:00 p.m. if you can't come by and join us (5195 S. Washington Ave. in Titusville on east side of U.S. one about a mile north of the 405 overpass). For those of you on the internet you can catch the Wednesday night teaching tomorrow on our web site. We're in John 10 tonight! :)

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Cleanliness is Not Always Next to Godliness

"Also I gave you cleanness of teeth [no food to eat] in all your cities. And lack of bread in all your places; Yet you have not returned to Me," Says the LORD.
(Amo 4:6)

Where no oxen are, the trough is clean; But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.
(Pro 14:4)

Clean is not always a good sign. Clean teeth could be due to not having any food to eat. A clean stall could be due to not having any animals to feed. And people who focus so much on being "clean" sometimes are not willing to help people at the risk of "getting dirty".

So how does this apply to your walk with the Lord? One thing that comes to my mind is the idea that being a Christian is refraining from doing bad things. Some people think that a sign of being a good Christian is that they don't do a lot of bad things. Well, if refraining from doing bad things is what makes you a good Christian than living in a closet would be one of the most spiritual lifestyles you could choose. But is that really what living for the Lord is really all about?

Read through the teachings of Jesus, and then tell me what God really thinks is important. Faith and works of love. Some people are so clean because they are not out working in the field.

Get your hands dirty in the name of Jesus! :)
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Refining Fire

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts. (Pro 17:3)

He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. (Mal 3:3)

God puts us through the fire that our hearts might be tested, proven, and purified.

who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Tit 2:14)

the process of purification requires fire, and we must be willing to go through the purifying fire, as it purges our impurities.

Many of us say that we are willing to serve the Lord, but are we willing to have Him put us through the purifying fire that we may offer to the Lord an offering of righteousness?

May our desire be to offer Him the best vessel we can be, and may we be willing to accept God's purifying fire in our lives, knowing that it will be to His glory.
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

The Godly Kind of Tough

It was about 950 B.C.
King Solomon had died, and his son Rehoboam had been crowned king. The people of Israel came to him and pleaded for relief from the heavy taxes they had had under his father. Rehoboam was more concerned with his status as king then his people's suffering. Apparently he thought that it was nervy for them to approach him with this request. After all, he was the king, and who were they to ask him to change their taxes? He therefore decided to put them in their place and teach them a lesson by raising their already heavy tax burden. The people of Israel returned to their tents, and Rehoboam set out after them to exact the new taxes from them. Rehoboam kept a safe distance, though, and sent Adoram, his Chief of Revenue into their camps to collect the taxes. The Israelites surrounded him en masse and stoned him to death.

Suddenly the tough King Rehoboam was frantically fleeing for his life, racing back to his chariot- back to Jerusalem where he could safely raise an army. What happened to the brave tough king that has spoken so rudely to his subjects?

But Rehoboam reigned over the children of Israel who dwelt in the cities of Judah. Then King Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was in charge of the revenue; but all Israel stoned him with stones, and he died. Therefore King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste to flee to Jerusalem. (1Ki 12:17-18)

Our toughness and rough talk is often a mask for our arrogance and hard headedness. The Old Testament uses the term "stiff-necked".

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness [hard headedness] is as iniquity and idolatry." (1Sa 15:23)

Samuel is warning us that if we think we are serving God while being hard headed we are fooling ourselves. Stubbornness is sin and as if we are worshipping other gods.

Here's to humility and meekness. The godly kind of tough.
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Three Strikes and You're Out- Sort of

God is slow to anger and abounds in mercy.

Even when pronouncing judgment on pagan nations, He reminds us through his prophets of His patience towards all.

The words of Amos, who was among the sheepbreeders of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. And he said: "The LORD roars from Zion, And utters His voice from Jerusalem; The pastures of the shepherds mourn, And the top of Carmel withers." Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they have threshed Gilead with implements of iron. But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, Which shall devour the palaces of Ben-Hadad.
(Amo 1:1-4)

This statement of 'for three transgressions . . . and for four' is repeated eight times in Amos chapters one and two. If God is this patient with the unbelieving nations of the world, how much more patient do you think He is with His own.

Some have said that this is saying that after the first evil He rebukes; after the second He warns; after the third He pronounces judgment; and after the fourth He executes His judgment.

Though God may bare long with wickedness, He will not be mocked. In Amos’ day, the nations, as well as Judah and Israel had all crossed the line, exhausting the patience of a longsuffering God, and as a result He judges in His wrath, and chastises in His mercy.

The LORD is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
(Psa 103:8)

The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.
(Psa 145:8)

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Those who are with us are more than those who are against us

So shall they fear The name of the LORD from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him. (Isa 59:19)

Keep in mind that when the Spirit of the Lord lifts up a standard, that He leads the hosts of heaven into battle.

No adversary can muster an army big enough to withstand the onslaught of a Holy Spirit led charge of the heavenly host.

Remember when an ancient king of Syria sent a huge army against God's Prophet Elisha?

Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?" And one of his servants said, "None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." So he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him." And it was told him, saying, "Surely he is in Dothan." Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
(2Ki 6:11-17)

When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Holy Spirit Himself will lift up a standard and summons the host of heaven to the charge. He is constantly engaged on our behalf, and making intercession for us with the Father (Romans 8:26).

You are in good hands!
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

The One That Solved the Great Mystery

Many of you already know that, after thousands of years of civilization, the great mystery of man's hope was finally revealed in Jesus Christ.

Man's PURPOSE was not a mystery, because from the beginning man was invited to enter into a personal relationship with his creator. Man's PROBLEM was not a mystery, because from the time of Moses onward, it was clear that sinful man was incapable of intimately relating to a holy God. Despite His love for man, God could not lower His standard or compromise His holiness. So there man was- Loved by the heart of God, but condemned by the righteousness of God. Man's HOPE was a mystery. That is, if there even was any hope. The prophets prophesied of hope for all mankind, however, but it was still a mystery as to just how God would bring this hope to a reality. And then came Jesus, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Praise the Lord!

HE predestines, HE calls, HE justifies, HE glorifies. (Romans 8:32)

It is not we who are able to establish ourselves in the faith of Christ, but He who is able to establish us in the faith of Jesus Christ.

Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
(Rom 16:25-27)

Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Choose God

Remember when we were kids and chose teams. Two kids would be captains and they took turns choosing other kids to be on their team. Well, each one of us must choose between the world and between God, because God won't play on the world's team. Earthly Jerusalem ended up choosing the world, and God used a nation called Babylon to bring high and mighty Jerusalem down.

One of the sad things in all this is God's heart is to save and heal, not to cut them down. And even when His people turn from Him to the world, His heart is still to save and heal, not to cut down or destroy.

God used the bow of His judgment to bring high and mighty Jerusalem down, but the prophet Jeremiah said, "For Israel is not forsaken, nor Judah, By his God, the LORD of hosts, Though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel." (Jer 51:3-5)

Even though I'm sure it hurts God deeply when you and I choose the world to play on our team instead of choosing God, He still loves us and He still is determined to work all things out for our good. He will not leave us or forsake us, for we are His own.

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself. (2Ti 2:13)

So remember, even though God may have to shoot us off our high and mighty horses at times in life, He is not shooting to hurt or destroy, but shooting to save us from ourselves. He shoots us down sometimes to heal and restore.

But the even better news is that we don't even have to climb up on our high and mighty horses. We can be humble, turn our backs on the world, and we can choose God!

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Are your adversaries dust yet?

Do you ever feel like you're up against insurmountable odds? Do you ever feel like you're up against a wall? Do you ever feel like you're playing king of the hill and never getting to the top? Do you ever feel like you can't move fast enough to keep up with life's challenges? Do you ever feel like you're not going to win the battle?

Well, I've got news for you. The Word of God is a proven sword that can decimate your adversaries. The Son of God is salvation and a shield to all those who trust in Him. The Love of God can and will sustain you in the fiercest of battles. In Christ you can run against a troop, leap over a wall, be fast as a deer, and pulverize your adversaries into dust!

For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength, And makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me, So my feet did not slip. I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them; Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed. I have wounded them, So that they could not rise; They have fallen under my feet. For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued under me those who rose up against me. You have also given me the necks of my enemies, So that I destroyed those who hated me. They cried out, but there was none to save; Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them. Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind; I cast them out like dirt in the streets.
(Psa 18:29-42)

Praise God!

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.

The Lord is With You While You are With Him

Did you know that God is found by those that seek Him?
Did you know that God is with those that are with Him?

Now the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded. And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: "Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The LORD is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you. For a long time Israel has been without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without law; but when in their trouble they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and sought Him, He was found by them. And in those times there was no peace to the one who went out, nor to the one who came in, but great turmoil was on all the inhabitants of the lands. So nation was destroyed by nation, and city by city, for God troubled them with every adversity. But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!" And when Asa heard these words and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and removed the abominable idols from all the land of Judah and Benjamin and from the cities which he had taken in the mountains of Ephraim; and he restored the altar of the LORD that was before the vestibule of the LORD. Then he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who dwelt with them from Ephraim, Manasseh, and Simeon, for they came over to him in great numbers from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him. So they gathered together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. And they offered to the LORD at that time seven hundred bulls and seven thousand sheep from the spoil they had brought. Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul; and whoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel was to be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. Then they took an oath before the LORD with a loud voice, with shouting and trumpets and rams' horns. And all Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart and sought Him with all their soul; and He was found by them, and the LORD gave them rest all around. (2Ch 15:1-15)

Jesus said we must seek Him, serve Him, and love Him with all our heart. With our whole heart.

I know that I haven't been doing blogs on Sundays, but all that is changing. How was your Lord's day? Did the Lord speak to you? You can watch my Sunday morning teaching on Solomon (going through 1 Kings now) by going to www.calvarychapelspacecoast.org and clicking on "Sunday worship service video". Today we talked about Solomon not being a whole hearted follower of God. Being a partially devoted follower spells spiritual disaster, and spells spiritual discipline.

Love God whole heartedly, and the Lord will give you HIS REST!

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Morning and Evening Devotions

It's hard to believe that a little over a year ago I started these daily devotions. In fact, it was January 1, 2009 when I posted my first devotion. (To read my first posted devotion you can go to our church web site at www.calvarychapelspacecoast.org, and click on Pastor B's Daily Devotion on the right, and click on the 2009 Archive in the left column of the blog site, and select January.)

This year I believe the Lord wants me to expand the daily devotions to a morning and evening, and I'm going to encourage you to take a few minutes first thing in the morning, and last thing at night (if you don't already) to read them and talk with the Lord. Of course, anytime between is always good, also. As David said,

Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, And He shall hear my voice. . . . Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. (Psa 55:17, 22)

[In the Hebrew, something that is 'cool' (i.e.,כּוּל) is something that sustains, provides nourishment, feeds. (Remember Christ telling us that He is the vine, and we are the branches?) This is the word that is translated "sustain" in Psalm 55:22 above.]

GOD WILL HEAR YOU!
GOD WILL SUSTAIN YOU!!
YOU SHALL NOT BE MOVED!!!

However, each of the above have conditions.
IF you call on the Lord He will hear you.
IF you cast your worries and fears at His feet He will sustain you
IF you righteously respond to what life throws at you He will not permit you to be moved.

Tomorrow in Sunday morning service we are going to talk about the fact that God WANTS TO BLESS US AND PROMOTE US, and what it takes to get there. Drop in if you can, watch the video teaching later in the day, if you can't.

I love you, am praying for you, and remember,
Overcome, or be overcome,
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

What Beautiful Feet You Have

I'd like to talk a few minutes today about your feet, if I may. As most of you know, Jesus washed the feet of His disciples before He was betrayed and crucified.

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (Joh 13:12-17)

I think those that interpreted this as a call to wash feet missed the point. This was a call to refrain from vying for position in the kingdom, and a call to humbly serve one another in the kingdom. This is seen in Christ's discussion with the mother of His disciples James and John.

Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father." And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." (Mat 20:20-28)

I once heard a beautiful children's song about this- "Make me a servant, humble and meek, Lord let me lift up those who are weak, and may the prayer of this heart always be, make me a servant, make me a servant, make me a servant today."

The most beautiful feet in the world are the one's of those that know Him, love Him, and humbly serve Him.

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Bearing Fruit for the Glory of God

Healthy vine branches bear beautiful fruit.

Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
(John 15:4-8)

Christ followers were to be healthy branches that bring forth beautiful fruit to the glory of God.

Did you ever stop and ask yourself, "Why use fruit as an example of bringing glory to God?"

Glory is great praise, honor, or distinction that one receives when the public admires you. It is something received for bravery on the battlefield, or for being the source of something magnificent that gives people a sense of awe. Fruit?

Christ took a cup with the fruit of the vine, the blood of the grape, at the Last Supper, and said, "This is the blood of the new covenant, shed for many". The blood, or life of Christ must be at the heart of our fruit, just as the juice is at the heart of the grape. From the glory of death and the cross, to the glory life and resurrection, to the glory of new life in us, to the glory of bearing fruit for God.

When you think of it, it is a pretty magnificent awe-inspiring picture, and all because the Son of God had the utmost bravery in the utmost battle.

All by His grace, all for His glory,
Pastor B.

Don't offer Trouble Your Guest Room

You may have a beautiful guest room, but don't allow trouble to come into your home and stay. Trouble comes by all of the time, looking for a place to rest its head, but don't let it rest in your home.

The word of God warns us that there are "accursed things" that just spell trouble for us, our families, and our Christian community. When allow these things to have room in our home we are not only allowing setting all those in our home up for trouble, but we are setting up all those in our Christian church family up for trouble.

The Hebrew Bible refers to these things that can ensnare us as God's people as "accursed things" (a word that literally means a net, or something you can get entangled by).

God warned His people that a lot of these snares in the world can be gold plated and look like they could bring pleasure or benefit. An example was the gold plated pagan idols around them.

"you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God. Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing." (Deu 7:25-26)

Joshua warned his people that taking in these accursed things brings trouble, not to just to ourselves, but to our camp.

And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
(Jos 6:18)

When we as Christians allow ourselves to get entangled into earthly affairs or things, it not only spells trouble for us, it spells trouble for our family and church family. God gives a stern warning to us. You can't keep from running into Trouble, but you don't have to give him a room in your house. You don't have to tangled up in it.

No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. (2Ti 2:4)

So next time trouble comes knocking don't let him in. Stay clear in the name of Christ and for the sake of your family in Christ.

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

By the way, our Financial Peace University Class is starting next Thursday, Jan 21st, here at the church, and it is not too late to sign up if you are ready to get out of debt once and for all. You can call me at 321-638-4464. Our church leaders have gone through this, and it can change your financial life quickly, and by God's grace, forever.

You are snared by the words of your mouth [referring to some financial arrangements you committed yourself to]; . . . Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. (Pro 6:2-5) If you are in debt, now is the time to run from it.

Against the Gates of Hell

An excerpt from Alfred Lord Tennyson's famous battle poem, Charge of the Light Brigade:

Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon in front of them
Volley'd and thunder'd;
Storm'd at with shot and shell,
Boldly they rode and well,
Into the jaws of Death,
Into the mouth of Hell
Rode the six hundred.

Jesus promised us that the gates of hell would not prevail against us, and as we charge against our foe we must not turn to the right or to the left.

Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil. (Pro 4:25-27)

"Therefore you shall be careful to do as the LORD your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. (Deu 5:32)

Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Jos 1:7-8)

On Sundays as we are going through 1 Kings we are talking about the need to Overcome lest we be overcome. Are you charging forward for the Lord? Will it be said of you, like it was said of young King Josiah?

And he [Josiah] did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
(2Ki 22:2)

Sometimes it can seem that we are riding through the valley of death, but there is no hell on earth that can overcome us if we stay in the saddle, keep our eyes on Him, and refuse to be turned to the left or to the right.

Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
(Jos 1:9)

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Stay focused

Stay focused.

"When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,' you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, 'You shall not return that way again.' Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. "Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel. (Deu 17:14-20)

As we're going through 1 Kings on Sunday, we saw how King Solomon went to great length to experience and enjoy the world's ways, the world's women, and the world's wealth. Just the things that God, through Moses, had warned him NOT TO DO.

We must learn to fear and respect God for who He is, and being careful to learn, apply, and obey God's Word is a good way to stay humble.

While it may make sense from a human perspective to pursue the world's ways and the world's wealth, it does not make sense from God's perspective.

As I said to my people yesterday, Everyone walks in faith. It's just a matter of who you're putting your faith in. God, or the things of the world?

The things of the world have a magnetism about them, and sometimes we as Christ followers need to wear our blinders to keep from getting distracted.

The important thing is to stay focused on the Word and His Kingdom, and Believe that God will use His ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things for His glory.

Are you ready for the battle?

"When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses and chariots and people more numerous than you, do not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. So it shall be, when you are on the verge of battle, that the priest shall approach and speak to the people. And he shall say to them, 'Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies. Do not let your heart faint, do not be afraid, and do not tremble or be terrified because of them; for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.'
(Deu 20:1-4)

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Are you on a Team?

In some ways the body of Christ is like the NFL, except all of our local church teams are playing against the adversary and not against each other. Our local churches, like football teams, all have a mission to compete effectively for Christ, and yet each has its own identity and unique place. It sounds spiritual to say that you just serve on Team Jesus, but the Bible says those that team Jesus consists of many local teams with their own unique team managers and coaches. On which of these are you serving?

The problem is often not so much which team within the body of Christ that a player is playing on, but rather that some players choose not to serve on a team at all. Maybe they don't like the discipline and rigors of Spring training. Maybe they don't want to risk being asked to go out on the field, or maybe they want to go out on the field and don't want to compete for the first string slots. Maybe they haven't found a team name or uniform to their liking, or maybe they just think that everyone should be on the same team, and don't like the fact that God chose to establish many local teams to accomoplish His purpose for the church.

The important question for each of us, is are we active on one of God's teams? Are we committed to our local team, and willing to work hard to get in shape? Are we willing to serve in whatever capacity the team coaches want or need us? Are we willing to show up for practices on time, and to respect our fellow teammates?

Serving on a local team is not just showing up, putting our name on the roster, and wearing a uniform, is it?

For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body," is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. (1Co 12:14-18)

So how are you doing on the local team in which He has set you?

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Are You Circling the Wagons?

What is your response when you feel all is lost? Many of us have circled up the wagons, tried to convince ourselves that all would work out, but deep down really didn't believe that God's calvary would be coming to the rescue. We find ourselves discouraged, or even in despair, believing that for whatever reason, God has left us to fend for ourselves. We feel helpless, hopeless, and hapless.

I find that reading the Psalms aloud is often a great comfort to me in such times.

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. (Psa 4:1)

(A Psalm of David The Servant of the LORD, Who Spoke to the LORD The Words of This Song on the Day that the LORD Delivered Him from the Hand of All His Enemies and from the Hand of Saul.)

And He Said: I will love You, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid. The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. (Psa 18:1-6)

(A Prayer When He Was in the Cave.) I cry out to the LORD with my voice; With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk They have secretly set a snare for me. Look on my right hand and see, For there is no one who acknowledges me; Refuge has failed me; No one cares for my soul. I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "You are my refuge, My portion in the land of the living. Attend to my cry, For I am brought very low; Deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison, That I may praise Your name; The righteous shall surround me, For You shall deal bountifully with me." (Psa 142:1-7)

You must build up your faith. It is your shield against the fiery darts of the wicked one. Talk to God aloud, Read the Psalms aloud, make signs with the promises of God on them, and display them prominently in places where you spend a lot of time.

This is a spiritual war, and you don't want to be one of its casualties.

For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES ON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME."
(Rom 10:11)


Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Hopefully You're Shooting at the Enemy

Are you shooting your arrows at the enemy, or at your brothers and sisters in the camp? The armor of God has nothing to protect our backs, as God is counting on us not to shoot arrows at each other. God calls us to minister to each other and build each other up, not tear each other down.

Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. (Rom 14:19)

Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
(2Co 13:11)

and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. (1Th 5:13-14)

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
(Heb 12:14)

God makes it pretty plain that living in peace with one another as a Christian community is critical to a healthy relationship with Him. We are fooling ourselves if we think we can have a wonderful relationship with God while having a turbulent relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I'm sure it was sometimes frustrating to the apostle Paul to pour himself into the minsitry of the gospel of Christ, find himself in prison, and yet hear that some of his brothers and sisters in Christ were spending their time and energy fussing with each other rather than spending it accomplishing the mission Christ gave us.

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, plead with you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph 4:1-3)

Amen!

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Are You a Mighty Person for the Lord?

The Hebrew word for "mighty" is 'gih-bore', and means passionately powerful. The offspring of the Nephilim in Genesis 6:4 were mighty. Joshua tells us that the Israelites had mighty men of valour [khah-yil], that is passionately powerful men of worth. Men that were 'worth their weight in gold' because they were valiant and worthy of one's trust in combat. These men of valor were not brave in a 'look at me', 'I'm the greatest', 'I can beat down anyone' type of foolhardy recklessness. These men were submitted to their leaders, loyal to their leaders, and willing to die for their leaders in combat.

It is one thing to find someone passionate. It is quite another thing to find someone that is passionately powerful. It is a rarity to find someone that is passionately powerful and loyal.

King David had the utmost respect for people that were passionately powerful and loyal. Even though Saul had tried to kill David, David blessed those that out of loyalty to Saul risked their lives to recover his and his sons' bodies from the Philistines after they had been slain in battle, to give them a decent burial.(1 Samuel 31 and 2 Samuel 2:5-7).

God blessed David with mighty men that were with him from the beginning. They served David loyally when he was on the run and in hiding, and when it didn't look like much would come of him. They served him long before he ascended the throne of Israel.

Spiritual leaders need passionately powerful people of valor. People that are not serving or loyal because of what they can get out of it, but are serving and loyal out of a faith in God and in the leader that God has raised up over them.

But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. . . . Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
(1Th 5:8-13)

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

Your Barn will be filled with Plenty

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.
(Psa 4:5)

Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.
(Psa 37:3-5)

I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth— Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD. Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
(Psa 40:1-4)

It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in princes.
(Psa 118:8-9)


Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
(Pro 3:5-10)

The bottom line for the people of God is that we must trust the Lord. Not man's methods or his maneuvering, not man's wealth or his wisdom, not man's power or his plans. But THE LORD.

One of the best things I can do for you in 201o is pray that you trust in the Lord, encourage you to trust in the Lord, and live by example to trust in the Lord.

Have a great year!
Yours in Him,
Pastor B.

The car key that wasn't

Do you truly believe that God is working in every situation?

And are you willing to suffer in order to glorify God in every situation?

Yesterday my son-in-law and daughter (visiting us from Jacksonville) could not find their only Toyota car key. We asked the Lord to help us find the key, but alas, we could not find it. They called the Toyota dealership which said the car would need to be towed to them and that for a few hundred dollars they could make them a new key.

I knew money was tight for them, and as I prayed I felt the Lord tell me to call a locksmith, and I therefore did so, even though I wasn't sure that locksmiths could make electronic keys, and when I found one that could, I knew it was the Lord's will for me to pay for a new key to be made. A young locksmith came, and I had opportunity to share the gospel and talk with him about the things of the Lord in our driveway. He told me he was going to come to my church Sunday because it was time for him to get involved in a local church family again, and shared a little of his background with me.

As he and his young son that was with him pulled out of the driveway, I couldn't help but reflect on the events that led up to our meeting. What if all of the drama surrounding the key was really about effecting a change this young man's life? That would explain why our prayers for finding the key weren't answered, and if getting a new key meant getting a family active in the Lord's work, the hundred and sixty-five dollars was a small price to pay.

And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. (Col 1:17)

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the 'words' of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1Pe 4:11)

May we look more for opportunities to glorify God this year when the going gets rough, and not be so concerned with Him quickly rescuing us from our every tribulation.

Yours in Him,
Pastor B.