Keep up the Faith

Walking in the Word

Luke 13:18-19

  
¹⁸ Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

 

Responding to the Word

 

When we think of the Kingdom of God, we think of vast, powerful places.  But Jesus said we could compare it to a mustard seed.  Now you can see that a mustard seed is anything be "vast," but what's up with this strange teaching?  I think back to the boy how had the lunchable of five loaves of bread and two fish.  What his mom packed for a mid day meal became the starting point of feeding five thousand people.  Something so small became something so "vast."

Faith is the same way.  God uses a "small" amount of faith in your heart and life and does incredible things.  Some may tell you, "But you're only a child."  Between you and me, I think God does even more with the faith of Children.  It may be small, but it's genuine. So, keep up the faith!

 

Praying in the Word

 

Father, How precious is the faith you instill within us.  Thank you for loving me and saving me from all unrighteousness.  Father I do believe, please help my unbelief.  Help me trust in You and Your word and not in this world or in my abilities.  Lord, I continue to pray for good weather on Saturday.  May your glory shine from the helicopter to the Easter eggs and may all experience of the Resurrected Messiah!  In Jesus' Name, Amen

Way to Go

Walking in the Word

Luke 12:42-43 

⁴² And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

Responding to the Word

I must admit that I did not have neatest room in the house when I was a child.  My older sister had a room we called the disaster.  Compared to hers, mine was pretty much OK.  I can remember when my mom would ask me to clean it.  After the usual protest, I started to clean up.  The only problem was that when my mom walked away, I'd stop cleaning.  Well, that was never a good idea because I could never hear her when she came back.  Jesus used a story similar to this.  He said the Son of Man (Jesus) was going up to Heaven, but would one day be coming back.  No one knows the day or time of His return, but remember he gave us a job to do while He's visiting the Father up in Heaven.  To go to all the nations and make disciples.  If we're not careful, we'll let other stuff fill our day.  Stuff like sports, friends or even a hobby we love.  But what do you want to be doing when He returns? 

Praying in the Word

Father, we are told to be ready in season and out of season.  I long await the ruturn of your Son to this planet.  Please give me the energy to always be faithful to Your call.  Father, I do lift up the Egg Drop Festival to You.  Please be our provision and may all who come hear the life-changing message of the Gospel.  In Jesus' Name, Bro Bill

Who's My Friend?

Walking in the Word

Luke 10:25-29 (New King James Version) 

²⁵ And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
²⁶ He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”
²⁷ So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”
²⁸ And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
²⁹ But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Responding to the Word

Yesterday, my son Jake told me an awesome story.  He said that he made friends with a boy in his class who has "problems."  This boy apparently gets in fights with his class mates and usually ends up playing by himself.  My son explained that he too was on the "friends" side until he notice the boys problems.  After getting to know him, Jake said that he had made a new friend.  "If feels better to be a friend to someone than to make fun of him."  I was extremely proud of my son for realizing this on his own.  Jesus said that it was easy to help your friends.  But what about your enemies?  What about the boy or girl who has "problems" in your class?  So who is your neighbor?  It's the one that God lays on your heart.  It's the one that may have only a few friends and needs a couple more. 

Praying through the Word

Father, help me to love those I meet.  Help me to love my family, friends and even the stranger that needs a helping hand.  I know this is possible because you have loved me, a sinner that deserves nothing good from You.  And because you have loved me, I too can love others.  In Jesus' Name, Amen

Payday

Walking in the Word

Luke 9:57-62 

  
⁵⁷ Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”
⁵⁸ And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
⁵⁹ Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”
But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
⁶¹ And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
⁶² But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Responding to the Word

Admit, Believe and Confess.  The ABC's of the Gospel.  Admit to God that you're a sinner.  I agree, we all must confess our sins to the Father.  Believe that Jesus is the Son of God.  Absolutely!  Confess my faith in Jesus as my Savior and Lord.  I could not agree more.  But whats up with the foxes and birds?  Jesus said that to follow Him, you must be willing to give it all.  Jesus wasn't being a bully and pushing people away from Him, but trying to communicate a very important truth.  And what was that truth?  Accepting and following Jesus is more than a simple one time prayer.  It's asking Jesus to change your life and help you unconditionally love and follow Him.

Praying Through the Word

Father, So much of Your Word is lovely and edifying to read.  Today's passage is difficult.  Help me to follow Your Son each and every moment of my life.  To give Him first place in what I say and do.  Please give me eyes to see and ears to hear Your good and perfect will.  I rejoice in that You indeed hold the plans of my life in Your hands.  In Jesus' Name, Amen

Shine Jesus Shine

Walking in the Word

Luke 9:28-31 

²⁸ Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. ³⁰ And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Responding to the Word

I sometimes played the strangest games when I was younger.  One time my cousin and I learned that we could see some "really cool spots in our eyes" by looking directly in the sun.  Now I don't recommend this as you would soon discover that looking into the sun makes your eyes tear up and gives you an instant headache.  I did however learn a very important lesson.  Simply stated, you can't look directly into the sun.  I believe that may have been the feeling of Peter, James and John as they beheld the "transformed" Messiah.  Sometimes people look at Jesus as simply that "Suffering Servant" that came to give His life for sinners like you and I.  But He's also a whole lot more.   He's God in the flesh.  He beheld all glory and power and one day He's coming again.  This time every knee will bow as say that He is Lord.  So go ahead and put on your cool shades because one day we too will see the power of the Risen Messiah.

Praying through the Word

Father, I know You hold everything in Your Hand.  Your Word says that Jesus was shining and talking with Moses and Elijah.  Time and space, life and death are all in Your Hands.  Please give me eyes to see you at work in the world around me and to show others the way to your salvation.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

All The Difference

Walking in the Word

Luke 8:22-25 

²² Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. ²³ But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy. ²⁴ And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. ²⁵ But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”
And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”

Responding to the Word

There was a movie that came out a few years back called, "The Perfect Storm."  It was about a fishing vessel that was caught at sea in a terrible storm.  It was a fairly depressing movie in that everyone new what was going to happen at the end.  A huge wave was going to come and sink the boat.  I would assume the men on that boat was experiencing the heart-gripping fear the disciples faced in today's story.  The big difference in each story however was the ending.  While the boat in "The Perfect Storm" plummeted to the bottom of the sea, the boat in the Gospel of Luke sailed onto the other side.  And what made the difference?  Jesus!  How cool it must have been to see even the wind and waves obey the strong command of Jesus.  Sometimes, we might find ourselves in some pretty severe storms of life.  The next time we allow the storms of life to swell up in our hearts, call out to Jesus.  He's more than able to calm the raging seas.

Praying through the Word

Father, I confess that I sometimes allow the storms of life to enter my heart.  Please give me the faith to call upon the Name of Jesus and rest in Your will alone.  Father, I lift up all the men and women who are serving our Country overseas.  Many truly are in a storm that is raging.  Please put your Hand of protection upon each of them.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

An Act of Worship

Walking in the Word

Luke 7:36-38

  
³⁶ Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. ³⁷ And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, ³⁸ and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

 

Responding to the Word

 

There's a song out that says, "What if I give all?"  I will confess that sometimes I bow my head to pray and think about what's happening around me.  Sometimes I sing the words to the worship song while thinking about the day ahead.  But I also know what happens when I pray like the Father is standing right beside me and sing like He's sitting by a speaker listening to me every word.  When I do the later, I am indeed worshiping!  Bow your head with me this morning to honor and worship the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  Put aside everything else and talk with Him.  He's listening.

 

Praying in the Word

 

Father, I have no alabaster box to offer you.  But what I do have I give freely.  Father I offer you my praise this morning.  Please forgive my sins and allow me to come into close fellowship with You.  I honor You not for what you do, but for who you are.  You are God!  In Jesus' Name, Amen

From Hopeless to Hopeful

Walking in the Word

Luke 7:11-15 (New King James Version)

 
¹¹ Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. ¹² And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. ¹³ When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” ¹⁴ Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” ¹⁵ So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. 

Responding to the Word

Jesus gives hope to the hopeless.  Here we see a widow (a mom who has lost her husband to death and now alone) burying her only son.  Can you just image how little hope filled this widow's life and heart.  But what did Jesus do?  He had compassion.  He raised the boy to life!

Here's the power principle for us to grasp.  If Jesus can raise a child traveling in a casket to new life, what can He do in your life?  Answer - ANYTHING.  If you're struggling with something where you feel little hope, remember the one who freely gives it!

Praying through the Word

Father, thank you for your unwavering hope.  You Son is my Lord and my Savior and I put all my trust in Him alone.  May others too realize the power that lies in You and Your Power.

In Jesus' Name, Amen

Surviving the Storm

Walking in the Word

Luke 6:46-49

⁴⁶ “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? ⁴⁷ Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. ⁴⁹ But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.”

Responding to the Word

I had a really cool dog when I was a kid.  He was a mut named Bumbus mine-in-shoe Blink.  I can't really say where his name came from but that was it in it's entirety.

I remember a time when Bumbus decided to go swimming in some concrete.  My dad had dug the deep foundation for an addition for our expanding family and as the concrete was being poured, Bumbus decided to take a dive.  It was OK.  A sponge and good garden hose took care of it.  So why did my dad have to dig a deep foundation (trench around the perimeter of the home)?  Well, he wanted the addition to stand and not fall down.  Jesus said we're like that with our lives if we hear His instruction and follow it.  Some people mistakenly think this teaching of Jesus is talking merely talking about making decision to follow Jesus.  Jesus said, "Whoever come to Me, hears my sayings and DOES them."  It's more than just a one-time decision to follow Jesus, it's about continually hearing His voice from the Bible and following His instruction.  Then, you too will be standing on a "good" foundation.

Praying in the Word

Father, The world around me can be a scary place.  I am still praying for those in Japan who's lives have been impacted by that devastating Tsunami.   I know there will be tsunamis that will come into all of our lives at some point.  Help me to read Your Word and obey it's teachings.  Father, I know your ways and plans and FAR better than anything I can plan.  In Jesus' Name, Amen

Boiling Points

Walking in the Word

Luke 4:28-30 

 ²⁸ All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. ²⁹ They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. ³⁰ But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

Responding to the Word

Everyone has anger.  It's a normal reaction to something that upsets you.  However, how you choose to "control" your anger makes all the difference in the world.  Take today's Bible passage for instance.  The people in the synagogue we mad enough to take God's Son and cast Him over a hillside!  Jesus, knowing that this was not the purpose of his coming simply walked through the midst of them and went away to a different town.  How cool is that?  Now I know what you're saying.  "I would never take someone and cast them over a hill in my anger!"  But what about in your heart?  Jesus told us that hating our brother in our hearts was like murder!  Be careful about what you let linger in your hearts.  The next time anger crops up your mind about something in the past or present, ask God to help you combat that with forgiveness.   After all, God's forgiven us for a whole lot more and we can do the same for others.


Praying Through the Word


Father, I know that I am not perfect.  I allow anger to settle in my heart and for Satan to take a hold way too many times.  Please allow me to release any anger and seek forgiveness for others and I pray others would seek forgiveness for me.  I pray the children of Plant City's First Baptist Church begin to grasp the issue of forgiveness in a whole new manner.  Sometimes extending forgiveness seems impossible, but with You all things are possible.  In Jesus' Name, Amen