23
Apr '20
When Broken is Better
23
Apr '20
Psalm 34:17-18, “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.”
Today’s devotional passage calls to mind Mark 2:17 where Jesus taught that those who are well have no need of a physician, only those who are sick. He was not teaching that there are some who are independently righteous and have no need of Him. He taught that only those who recognize their condition will seek the cure. Jesus promises that when a humble heart cries out to God, He will hear and deliver. Which is why I love to sing Rock of Ages:
“Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.”
Broken before Jesus is better, because only He can – and will – make you whole.
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22
Apr '20
The Gospel Dynamic Empowers Our Civic Duty
22
Apr '20
As believers this world is not our final home. We are just passing through. Still, we do live in this world. Specifically, I live in and pastor a church in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, one of the sovereign states that constitute the United States of America. Therefore, we as a church have a civic responsibility to our local community, state, and nation. The gospel is what powers our civic duty. We cannot separate gospel truth from our community involvement and engagement. Belief and behavior. Profession and practice. One or the other is never enough. Both are necessary. Gospel truth cannot be separated from gospel living. This is our civic duty.
Tonight at 7pm we will livestream another installment in the series Biblical Counsel for Pandemics (our anytime), and we will be focused on Titus 3:1-7:
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Kentucky, USA is my home, and I love it. It is also the home to many other people, not a few of whom do not share my worldview or my values; in fact, they are adamantly opposed to them.
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21
Apr '20
Are You a “We”?
21
Apr '20
1 John 3:22, “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.”
This has to be one of the most remarkable prayer passages in scripture, but we must understand that this promise is not made to every professing believer. Reread the verse, and ask yourself if you are one of the “we’s.” There are four:
- we ask…
- we receive…because – do not fail to notice this promise’s condition
- we keep…and
- [we] do. (This one is understood.)
So then, trust God’s Word, seek to keep His Word by the power of His Spirit, and endeavor to please Him in every aspect of your life. This enables our prayers to be confidently offered to God through Christ in the Spirit. This glorifies God. What glorifies God is always best for us.
Ask yourself. Is “we” me?
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20
Apr '20
Spring Clean Up Event
20
Apr '20
Stuff needs to be done. Spring cleaning will not abide by the quarantine standards, but we can follow social-distancing guidelines while accomplishing some necessary tasks. I appreciate Debbie Dull’s initiative in putting together a list of jobs that need to be done. Check the list, then call Lori Eaton to schedule a time when you can come and do the work while maintaining your distance.
- Spray fence ______________
- Clean up fence section (leaves vines off fence, sticks, etc.)
- Red to blue ______________
- Blue to green ____________
- Green to yellow ___________
- Yellow to black ___________
- Black to orange ___________
- Orange to white ___________
- Weed flower bed and remove leaves
- Front of church building ____________
- Side of church building _____________
- Prune bushes
- Front of church building ____________
- Side of church building _____________
- Check missions’ quarters ________________
- Leaf removal behind FLC – next to building and along fence ________________
- Leaf removal from AC cage behind church building ___________________
- Stick removal from hillside ______________________
- Sweep walking track in the FLC __________________
- Mop walking track in the FLC ____________________
- Wipe off with disinfectant railing around walking track in the FLC ____________
- Wipe off with disinfectant exercise equipment in the FLC ___________________
- Fix lock on ladies’ bathroom door on the west end of church building _________
- Repair door handle to ladies’ bathroom door; east end of building __________
- Replace floor drain cover in men’s bathroom on the west end ______________
- Paint speaker shelves in choir room _________________
- Remove beehives and clean outside of doors to the missions’ quarters _______
Repair shelter spouting
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20
Apr '20
Devotional Thought for This Week’s Start
20
Apr '20
Ephesians 4:26, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”
Jesus Christ was angry at evil (Mark 3:5; Matthew 23). How can God’s people be any different? Scripture calls us to be angry without sin. Anger is right when it is directed towards the proper person or thing. When it is held in the proper manner, to the proper degree, for the proper time, and rooted in the proper motivation. That motivation is the resistance to evil. When is anger sin? Simply take all the above and add the prefix “im.” Anger is always sinful when it is directed at the improper person or thing, in an improper manner, to an improper degree, for an improper time, and for an improper reason. How do we know if our anger is improper? Scripture is the guide, not anything or anyone else. Be angry at evil, starting with your own, and trust God to set things straight in His time.
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19
Apr '20
Keeping the Faith
19
Apr '20
Daniel is a marvelous book of prophecy. But do not forget that Daniel was a real man. So were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and all the other players mentioned in this book. Daniel experienced real visions from God. The Holy Spirit inspired him to record those visions during real-life situations. As you read through the book, the difficulty of those real-life situations is immediately and consistently apparent. I believe it’s safe to suggest that, much like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, we are living during challenging times, and not just because of COVID-19. Like those four men, we are living in a faithless age. We are to be faithful. Just as they were.
The prophetic teaching of Daniel begins in earnest with chapter 7. From there through chapter 12 we learn of God’s sovereign power and rule over future events. The evidence of God’s sovereign power and rule over past and current events is what gives weight to those future claims. God’s ruling and over-ruling past and current events is what we find in Daniel 1-6. In those first six chapters we are reminded in dramatic fashion how God intervenes on behalf of His people for His glory, which is always for their good. We also see that His intervention takes shape both in the form of discipline and blessing.
This morning our text will be Daniel 1. We will be encouraged by examples of men from the past who kept their faith in the same God we serve during their own difficult days. May we do likewise. The livestream will begin at 11am.
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18
Apr '20
Saturday with Spurgeon
18
Apr '20
“I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” Joshua 1:5.
This word to Joshua is often quoted; it is the basis of that New Testament word, “He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Beloved, a life of warfare is before us, but the Lord of Hosts is with us. Are we called to lead a great but fickle people? This promise guarantees us all the wisdom and prudence that we shall need. Have we to contend with cunning and powerful enemies? Here is strength and valor, prowess and victory. Have we a vast heritage to win? By this sign we shall achieve our purpose; the Lord Himself is with us.
It would be woe to us indeed if Jehovah could fail us; but, as this can never be, the winds of disquietude are laid to sleep in the caverns of divine faithfulness. On no one Occasion will the Lord desert us. Happen what may, He will be at our side. Friends drop from us, their help is but an April shower; but God is faithful, Jesus is the same for ever, and the Holy Spirit abideth in us.
Come, my heart, be calm and hopeful today. Clouds may gather, but the Lord can blow them away. Since God will not fail me, my faith shall not fail; and, as He will not forsake me, neither will I forsake Him. Oh for a restful faith!
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17
Apr '20
Eager to Preach
17
Apr '20
Romans 1:15 says, “So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.”
That sentence burns with a passionate fire for the gospel, for the God of the Gospel, and for the lost to hear the Gospel. Paul was eager. He was ready and willing to preach. Not his preferences, not his pet peeves, Paul was eager to preach the gospel. Should we be any different?
Life had but one value for Paul. To do the Lord’s work. Paul was consumed by an eager desire to glorify God. He served his Lord with a cheerful and joyful readiness, and in so doing he served others also. This zeal of service was evident in the “faithful men” that Paul mentored. Men like Epaphroditus who, Paul said in Philippians 2:30, “For the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.” Of course, Paul penned those words while in prison for unapologetically proclaiming the gospel!
With All Our Might!
Paul said, “as much as in me is…” that’s passion. Paul had given himself completely to the mission that Christ had given him. Every church has the same mission: going, winning, baptizing, and teaching! Have we given all? Are you willing to give as much as is in you? Our Lord has not asked for little pieces and parts of our lives. Serving Jesus is not about convenience and comfort. We are to serve our Lord and Savior with all our might, offering Him our time…our talent…our treasure…our totality of being so that we might see others rescued from the wages of sin. As J.I. Packer said in Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, the driving force of this evangelistic zeal is a love of God and concern for His glory, and a love of man and concern for his welfare.
Love for the Lost
Having compassion on those in need is Christ-like. Such compassion should mark us and motivate our evangelism. This certainly marked Paul’s evangelism. He loved Jews and Gentiles alike, and he was motivated to become “weak” if necessary in order to “save some.”
We all know what it is like to share good news with someone (having a baby, been promoted, found a job, got a raise, bought a car, the Reds’ won!). We are excited to share good news with others because we know they’ll benefit from hearing it. We know they’ll like it. So we want to be the one who shares the good news.
Can you imagine being less excited about telling someone the infinitely better news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Yet too often I am. How about you?
Love for the Lord
The greatest motivating force for our whole life, including evangelism, must be our love for Christ. Only our love for Him, and more importantly, His love for us, will keep us on track. Ultimately, our motive in evangelism must be a desire to make God’s glory known. When we tell the truth about God to His creation, they benefit and He is glorified!
The call to evangelism is a call to turn our lives outward from focusing on ourselves and our needs to focusing on God and on others made in His image who are still at enmity with Him and in need of salvation from sin and its penalty.
Paul said, “As much as in me is.” Let’s give ourselves, with all our might, to this purpose, with this passion.
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16
Apr '20
Do You Know Jesus?
16
Apr '20
Do you know who Jesus is? The only way to truly answer that question is to search for answers in the scriptures. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Jesus is a DIVINE Person
- “In the beginning” – That’s eternity
- “with God” – That’s equality
- “was God” – That’s divinity
Jesus is God spelling Himself out in a language we can understand.
Jesus is a HUMAN Person
In John 1:14 we learn that “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” and John was an eyewitness to this so he parenthetically adds “(and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
God the Son become the God-Man with His birth in Bethlehem. That was so because man has a problem. That problem is sin, and sin pays wages. Sin earns death. Men are spiritually dead by nature, and to physically die in that condition leads to eternal death and eternal punishment for our sin. Only man is able to pay for man’s sins, and only Christ’s death could purchase our pardon. The divine Christ became human in order to free those who were held in slavery all their lives by the fear of death (see Hebrews 2:14-18).
Jesus is the God-Man
Jesus understands us. He knows and cares. During His brief ministry on this earth He caused the blind to see, the crippled to walk, the deaf to hear, the mute to speak. All of that was to authenticate and demonstrate who He was, and how He alone is able to make you whole. Jesus never ceased being divine, and He will forever be a man. He was not and is not half-and-half. Jesus does not wear His divinity hat sometimes and His humanity hat other times. He is the only and the perfect God-Man.
- So human He got tired. So divine He said, “come unto Me, and I will give you rest.”
- So human He got hungry. So divine He fed thousands from a boxed lunch.
- So human He got thirsty. So divine He said, “drink of the water that I give, and you’ll never thirst again.”
- So human He cried at a funeral. So divine He raised the dead to life!
- So human He died on the cross. So divine that He rose again three days later and offers eternal life to all.
Ask yourself two questions.
Do I know this Jesus? Does Jesus know me?
Jesus addressed a large group of religious people when He said…
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.” John 10:27-30
Do you know this Jesus? More importantly, does He know you?
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15
Apr '20
Now is the Time
15
Apr '20
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. Ecclesiastes 1:1-5
Not an encouraging outlook on life, but one that does echo in many hearts. Ecclesiastes is a textbook on the true philosophy of existence. The Preacher speaks like a philosopher. He uses the observable facts of this life “under the sun” to reveal the truth that lasting happiness and genuine satisfaction cannot be found in what this world has to offer alone. Pursue happiness and satisfaction under the sun only and you will find what Mick Jagger discovered. “I can’t get no satisfaction.”
The Preacher had tried. He thoroughly explored three different avenues of life. He tried the streets of…
Intellectualism
He sought to expand his mind and learn all that was humanly possible. He succeeded. There has not been one wiser than Solomon, but he learned that information alone cannot fill the needs of the heart or satisfy the soul. Our minds matter, but our own intellect and scientific rationalism cannot provide the ultimate answers to life. Education is a good thing but turn it into your god and it will leave you in despair.
Hedonism
Since knowledge and information were unable to satisfy the soul, the Preacher indulged himself in every pleasure. He didn’t hold back. No one drank more, had more sex, enjoyed more art, or laughed at more comedians than the Preacher, but all of that just proved to be another dead-end street. Pleasure is a good thing, but because of the Fall, it is not a trustworthy life guide. Turned into a god, pleasure becomes slavery.
Workaholism
The Preacher was a master builder. His projects were magnificent and to be envied. While hard work is a virtue, workaholism is as ultimately satisfying as plowing water. Industriousness is a great characteristic, but a miserable god.
The Preacher explored all these avenues of living and found each of them to unhappy dead-end streets. He ultimately discovered that all his intelligence, indulgences, and industriousness were meaningless under the sun.
That’s the first eleven chapters, and in chapter twelve, the last of the book, he brings his talk to a conclusion by driving home four foundational truths. That will be out focus tonight for the livestream. Here are your viewing options:
- Follow this link to view the livestream directly from our Vimeo page. If you search for our feed on Vimeo use “bbc church.”
- Click the “Watch Video” button on the church’s Facebook page.
- Watch us on Facebook Live
- Watch us on YouTube If you search for us on YouTube use “Bible Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon.”
All of these options are available because we want to make it easy for you to follow along. Please set aside the time to tune in at 7 pm. Have your Bibles open.
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