Press the Power Button

Walking in the Word

³⁶ As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”  Mark 5:36

Responding to the Word

So what is that picture above?  It's a power button.  That's the word that comes to my when I see Jesus acting in love and compassion.  In today's Bible reading, we see Jesus going to help Jarius' daughter and preforming another miracle without even knowing it!  Now that's power.  And look at what He told Jarius  when the traveling group found out his daughter had died.  "Don't be afraid; only believe."  Sounds like Jesus had a whole lot of confidence about what He was about to do.  And He should!  Jesus had and continues to have all power and strength!  You too can have great faith in the One who gave his life for your sins and for mine.

Praying through the Word

Father, What a great day in your House yesterday.  I love to learn about You, sing about You and learn more and more about Your ways for my life.  How I love to think of Your Great Power and all that you do in the lives of the adults and children at First Baptist.  Thank you for blessing in all the ways that you do.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Power Team

Walking in the Word

¹³ And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. ¹⁴ Then He appointed twelve,  that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, ¹⁵ and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: ¹⁶ Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; ¹⁷ James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house. Mark 3:13-19

Applying the Word

I love strong teams.  Strong teams work together in basketball, soccer, baseball and football.  Jesus also had an incredibly strong team.  He called each one by name and used them to change an entire world.  If you choose to ask God to forgive your sins ask the Risen Savior into your heart, then you too are a winning team.

Praying through the Word

Father,  Thank you for calling us to Your love and grace.  Thank you for calling us to your salvation and allowing each of us to join Your INCREDIBLE team.  Father, today I pray for Claude and Sheila Walker as they make their way to India.  Please give them traveling mercies and an incredible mission experience.  In Jesus' Name, Amen

No Chick fil a on Sunday?

Walking in the Word

²⁵ But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: ²⁶ how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?”
²⁷ And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”  Mark 2:25-28 (Italics added)

Applying the Word

     Wow, have things really changed!  When I was a kid (which to me wasen't that long ago), the thought of going out to eat on a Sunday was crazy.  My mom began preparing our Sunday Dinner before Sunday School even began.  What made it a little easier was that many places simply weren't open on Sundays.  That's where Chick fil a comes in.  Today I confess I eat out almost every Sunday and often forget Chick fil a's closed.
    We have a choice on how we treat the Sabbath.  Is it simply another day of the week or is it something more?  The Jewish people here in the book of Mark observed the Sabbath with such respect that they mocked Jesus' disciples for picking grain and eating!  They believed it was unlawful for a person to do one ounce of work on the Sabbath.  But the intent of their heart here is not to simply keep the Sabbath pure but to find an area to accuse Jesus for wrong doing. 
     Jesus is Lord!  He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and He is Lord over all creation including the Sabbath.  The lesson here is to treat the Sabbath not as a list of do and do nots, but with honor and respect. 

Prayer of Response

Dear Father, I confess that we often treat Your Sabbath in a wrong way.  Help us to honor it as a day to worship you.  We thank you for Jesus who is indeed Lord over everything.  Thank You for allowing him to be our Lord as well.  Father, today we lift up my friend Mrs. Mary Hallman.  We pray for your healing touch on her back and in her life.  In Jesus' Name, Amen

You've Got a Friend In Me

Walking in the Word

 ¹ And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. ² Immediately^[a] many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them. ³ Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. ⁴ And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying.
⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”   Mark 2: 1-5

Applying the Word

I love the original Toy Story movie.  My oldest used to sleep with his Buzz Lightyear action figure and dressed up as Woody on more than one occasion.  Toy Story was all about friendship.  The "friendship" that Andy had for his toys.  The "friendship" the toys had for one another and the "incredible friendship" that developed between Buzz and Woody.  I saw that very same type of friendship in an event that really did happen.  Mark 2 tells us that a man's friends were so determined to bring their buddy to see Jesus, that they actually made a hole in the roof and lowered him down.  They would not let the crowed doors and jam-packed windows of the home to hinder their quest.  They were taking their friend to see Jesus.  One of the greatest things we can ever do for our friends is to introduce them to Jesus.  You do that by sharing what Jesus has done in your life and what He's willing to do in theirs.  How he died on the cross of Calvary only to conquer death and rise again.  How he wants to enter each heart and become their Lord and Savior. 

Praying the Word

Dear Father,  How we begin this day by only adoring You.  The Maker and Creator of all that we know and even what we don't.  Lord please search our heart and forgive our sins.  Help us Father to take each of our friends to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Help us to be like your Son and become "a friend to the sinners," so that we may see many cross from spiritual death to life.  Thank you for hearing our prayer in name of Jesus we pray.  Amen

Serve

Walking in the Word

²⁹ Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰ But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. ³¹ So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.
Mark 1:29-31

Response to the Word

My son Jake loves the game of tennis.  He took an interest in it with our good friend Mr. Rhett at one of our Summersalt Sport and Arts Camp.  Last week he had the chance to work on his serve at the Plant City Tennis Club. The "serve" in a game of tennis is very important.  The ball has to be placed in just the right spot in the air and then the racquet must extend up and over the head for good contact.  If your going to play the game of tennis, you must have a good serve.  Take note of what happened in today's Bible passage.  We see here that Peter's wife was sick with fever.  And look who showed up in just the right time?  The Great Physician, Jesus.  He lifted her hand and the fever left!  But just check out what happened next.  Simon's wife began to serve Jesus and the others.  A natural part of our life as a follower of Christ is one of service.  Jesus said He came to serve and not to be served. How are you serving Him today?

Prayerful Response to the Word

Father, thank you for a new and glorious day.  Please search my heart and mind and forgive any sin You find.  Help me to love You more and more everyday.  Father, I ask you to give me a heart of service.  To show others the love of your son Jesus through what I say and do.  I pray for each of the children at Plant City First Baptist that they would have a great week at school and at home.  Help them to find ways to serve you with all their hearts as well.  In Jesus' Name, Amen

Working for the King

Walking in the Word

²¹ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’  Matthew 25: 21

Applying the Word

The parable of the three servants with differing talents used to haunt me when I was younger.  I mean, what's so wrong with the one dude who buried his talent and then later returned it?  I thought he was just playing it safe and didn't want to jeopardize his Master's money.  But the parable here is not talking about money, but service to our Lord and God Jesus Christ.  We are the servants and God is the Master.  God has entrusted special gifts within every believer.  That means if you have given your life to Jesus, you too have been blessed with these special gifts called talents.  The only question is whether or not you're using them for His glory. 

Praying Through the Word

Dear Lord, Help us to see every day as a special gift from You.  Please give us courage and boldness to share the Gift of the Gospel message with every man, women, boy and girl we meet today.  My prayer is that you would indeed find us faithful with the tools you have instilled in our lives.  Please forgive our sins and guide us this day we ask.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Ready or Not, Here I Come

Walking in the Word

¹⁰ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
¹¹ “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ ¹² But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’
¹³ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.  Matthew 25:10-13

Response to the Word

The "virgins" in this story from the Bible are those women who are not yet married.  They are waiting for someone called the "Bridegroom."  He's the one who's getting ready to marry and is about to select a future wife.  In the story, the virgins go out to meet the bridegroom. Only problem is that they didn't properly prepare for the evening.  They had to leave in the middle of the "big event" in order to buy some oil.  And take a look at what happened when they returned.  The door was locked and bridegroom would not let them in. Wow!  Do you see what Jesus is saying here?  As believers in Jesus Christ, we need to be ready for Jesus to return at any moment.  This story also helps us to understand the need for "salvation" today!  Many assume that they have days, months or even years before they give their heart to the Lord.  But Jesus is absolutely clear when He said that 'No One' knows the time and date of His return.  It could be this morning or this afternoon.  Are you ready if He does?

Prayerful Response to the Word

Dear Lord, How I thank you for a great prayer meeting and children's choir at church last night.  I love to hear our children lift their voice to a Mighty God.  I pray it is a sweet offering to You.  Father, I pray you would guide me this day and help me to live my life "ready" for Your Son's return.  Help me to show others the way of salvation in and through Jesus Christ so that as many as possible will be saved.  In Jesus' Name, Amen