The appearance of godliness

One great tragedy in the church is the person who has the appearance of godliness but denies its power. They look forgiven, gifted, and faithful but they are not. Persecution reveals the truth when they run like a hireling shepherd. Times of difficulty reveal the truth when all those characteristics from 2 Timothy 3:2-4 come out instead of the power of godliness. These are outward characteristics that all can see but what about the inside where it starts? Inwardly they deny the power of godliness. They honestly deny the need to be forgiven of sins. They honestly deny the power of Christ to forgive and redeem. They honestly deny the power of the Spirit to strengthen and guide. THe refiner's fire reveals the truth.

Father, please my God do not let me be someone who has the appearance of godliness but deny its power. May my crucifixion with Christ be true and always on my mind. May I live by faith in Christ. May my life count and my salvation be sure in Him. Do not let me run from persecution but endure in difficulty. Christ is my treasure; the hope of my life. Your word is my powerful teacher; the lamp to my feet. Train me and use me I pray.

In Jesus' Name
Amen

Approved Workmen are Not Ashamed

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

I am currently at a loss concerning the BGCT and their recent decisions and apparent lack of a biblical foundation. Take a moment to read again 2 Timothy 2 thinking about the BGCTs decision to hire the first woman to lead our affiliation of churches. What you may not know is that yesterday I introduced a resolution to the resolution committee that the Convention stand against Open Theism. I was told that the resolution would not go to the floor for vote because, in essence, it's too controversial. It is a sad day when it is too controversial for the BGCT to stand together and say, "We affirm God's exact and exhaustive knowledge of all future actions of his creation." Really? It is too controversial for us to say, "I may not know what the future holds but I know who holds the future"?

It seems our convention is caught up in civilian affairs and not competing by the rules. Youthful passions chasing after whatever is novel, controversies, and quarrels seem to be everywhere.

Father, make us approved workmen who rightly handle Your word of truth. Make us a convention that returns to the gospel and the absolute truth of Scripture. Do not let us get mired down in controversies or irreverent babble. Focus on Scripture, God's special revelation to us. I do not want to engage in struggles or stir emotions. I want Christ to be honored by my desires, words, and deeds. I want to endure and I want the Convention to endure but if we do not return to the total authority of Scripture over all of life we have no reason to believe we will endure. Father, no matter what happens I will trust in You because no matter if we are faithless I will look to Christ because He is faithful. The Gospel is not bound. I will trust in You. I will yet praise You because You are my God.

For Christ,
Amen

Pray for the BGCT

Aaron and I will be attending the Baptist General Convention of Texas Annual Meeting today and tomorrow. Pray for us and for the convention. Pray that we will grow together as brothers in Christ, encouraging and challenging each other. Pray that the convention will return to it's bible roots. These are the major issues in the convention right now- support for Open Theism in our colleges and seminaries, support and encouragement for women to become senior pastors in our convention, from our executive director, and from our colleges and seminaries. Fundamentally this is a product of leaving behind a solid stance on the inerrancy of Scripture. If their is no authority than everything goes. And judging by the attitudes of those attending the convention things are going.

Pray for us

The Church

1st Timothy 3:14&15, "I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth."

Father, may You make this church Your assembly. Make us the church of the living God. Don't let us make a name for ourselves or set up little groups. Remove our pride. Let our pride fall down like the walls of Jericho. Raise up among us men and women who love Jesus Christ, who love the truth. May our desires focus on Christ and being faithful to Him. God remove division that Your church may stand. Help us to love. Help us to serve. Help us to be like Christ.

In His Name
Amen

To the ends of the earth

In Ephesus where Timothy was pastor there was a dangerous tendency to focus only on the Jews and only those Jews in Ephesus. It is the equivalent to focusing only on yourself and your family. Our prayers start to revolve around us. Our ministry becomes limited to us. Our evangelism stays in the family. So we are reminded of three truths in 1 Timothy chapter 2: we should pray for all people, God desires all people to be saved, and Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all people. It is the calling of every believer to pray expansively. It is God's responsibility to call men and women to Himself. It is Jesus' responsibility to redeem those that belong to Him.

God, we trust You to work and save. And we rely on You to give us the strength and boldness to share the gospel. You know who will be saved; You lovingly chose them before the foundation of the world. Use me and use Mambrino Baptist Church in Your plan of redemption. Do not let us become narrow-minded. Help us to pray, give, and go so that the gospel of Jesus goes forth everywhere and is honored. Help us to exalt Jesus and rejoice in Him.

In Jesus' name
Amen

Jesus the prophet

2nd Kings 4:42-44, "42 A man came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley and fresh ears of grain in his sack. And Elisha said, “Give to the men, that they may eat.” 43 But his servant said, “How can I set this before a hundred men?” So he repeated, “Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the Lord, ‘They shall eat and have some left.’” 44 So he set it before them. And they ate and had some left, according to the word of the Lord."

Matthew 14:15-20, "15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children."

Jesus, You are the perfect prophet. Like Elisha who has gone before You feed the hungry and raise the dead. Show me today from Your word and in Your power that You are trustworthy. You will take care of my needs. You will take care of me in death. Father, I praise You for Jesus. Your compassion, wisdom, and holiness are displayed perfectly in Him. He gives the bread I need to live and He himself is the bread of life. May I follow Him faithfully today. May my brothers and sisters at Mambrino Baptist Church follow Christ faithfully today. Make us bold. Make us true to You.

In Jesus' name
Amen

The Speedy Word

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

My God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray that You will make the word of the Lord speed ahead and be honored among Mambrino Baptist Church. Deliver us from wicked and evil men. We know that not everyone is faithful but Jesus Christ is. Show us His faithfulness. Establish us and guard us against the evil one. Give us confidence. Give us confidence in Christ and give us confidence in Christ in each of us. Show us Your will and and give us the strength to do all that is commanded. God I desperately want You to direct our hearts to Your love. I want this church to be different and steadfast in Christ. May Your word move speedily through Your church.

In Jesus' Name
Amen

We Belong to the Day

1 Thessalonians 5:8-11, "But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."

Our Father in heaven, I pray today that we would be sober minded. Give us wisdom and give us discernment. I know the aim of ministry is love that issues from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Show me how to put these things on every day so that I might be the man You call me to be. I want to walk worthy of You. I want to please You and I want to be used by You. Give me the hope of salvation. Set my eyes on the return of Christ and His great day. I know You did not destine me for wrath but to obtain salvation through Christ. He died for the church so that if we are dead or alive we will all live with Him. Show us that great life. Help us to encourage each other. Do not let me spend on my self but on others. Use me today my great King.

In Jesus' name
Amen

More and More

1 Thessalonians 4:1, "Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more."

Father, I thank You for the obedience in my life; I know it is only because You are working in me. Work even more in my life. I want to please You more and more. I want to walk in a manner worthy of You more and more. Help me Father to hear the urging of others. Use me to urge others to grow in faithfulness. Make pleasing You the center of my day and a defining characteristic of my life.

In Jesus' Name
Amen

Big Talk

1 Kings 20:11, And the king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor boast himself as he who takes it off.’”

There is an obvious difference in saying you are something and actually being that thing. We can talk big about how strong, humble, or faithful we are but how do we fare in the battle? The battle ground, not the parade ground, is the proving ground. Strength in marriage is not proven in the good days but through the trials. Our love is not demonstrated clearly when we are loved but when we are hated.

1 Thessalonians 3:12&13, "and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints."

Lord, establish my heart in holiness. I pray for my church that You would establish all our hearts as blameless in holiness before You. When the greatest test and strongest gaze of perfection falls upon us make us stand firm on Christ. Do not let us who are strapping on the armor boast as he who takes it off. Give us all that we need to be faithful and fruitful. Guard our consciences from pulling up short of faithfulness like Ahab did. Make our report like the report of the Thessalonians, "standing fast in the Lord."

In Jesus' Name
Amen

Can you believe this guy?

But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

Great Father of mercies, give me boldness. Give Your church boldness. Though I suffer and though I be shamefully treated I pray for strength to declare Your gospel even in conflict. I pray for strength to declare Your gospel especially in conflict. Do not let me shy away from what is important. Do not let me sacrifice what is true for what is easy. Give me a hunger for Your gospel and a willingness to humbly defend it. And Lord I pray for gentleness. Too often I swing from cowardice to brutal pride. Make my exhortation, encouragement, and charge to Your people like that of a father to his children. Give me boldness and give me gentleness. Give me the mind of Christ. He is my glorious Savior and my perfect example. Christ is my all in all. Christ is worth my all. May I stand firm for Him.

In His name
Amen

What do people pray for you?

Have you ever given thought to how people pray for you? It is an unfortunate tendency among Christians to tell people we will be praying but then not pray. As Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica he was sure to pray for them. He prayed for them because of some specific things.

1. Their work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in Christ was evident and clear in his mind so Paul prayed.
2. Paul prayed for them because he knew they were loved and chosen by God.
3. Paul prayed for them because they were imitators of right faith full of endurance and the joy of the Holy Spirit.

Why do people pray for you? Do your prayer requests always deal in the negative or physical? In a humble way do you ask people to pray for your work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in Christ? Do you remember to pray for people for no other reason than they are loved and chosen by God?

Father, I want to pray today for Pat Barrett and Commissioner Roan. Pat's work of faith, labor of love, and steadfastness of hope in Christ are so evident and clear. It is obvious that You love her and have chosen her. As she imitates right faith full of endurance and sets the example with the joy of the Holy Spirit please guide her. You know the Comissioner's Court is meeting next Monday to rule on funding the road project in Brazos River Acres. Be with Commissioner Roan as he makes his case and request. Guide the ministry that Pat leads. Guide Mambrino Baptist Church. Guide Brazos River Baptist Church. May we set the example. May You see fit to use us. May our faith go forth everywhere. May Your glory shine forth.

Because of Christ

Amen

Seek and Set

Colossians 3:1-4, "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

What are you going after? What do you want? Are you seeking the things above? Do you want Christ? What is your mind set upon? What do you imagine or think about? Are you set on earthly things or are you set on heavenly things? If you are a Christian then you have died. The power of Satan and this earth of you has been broken. Your inability to please God has been cured. You are hidden with Christ in God. You are a new creation because of Christ. When He returns then you will be with Him. Dwell on these things.

The struggle

I think we struggle so much in our lives physically and spiritually because we are not dedicated to struggling for others. Because our energies are not funneled correctly those energies end up being consumed in an ineffective manner. Think of Paul's words in Colossians 2:1-3

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

As Christians, and if you are reading this, it's safe to assume there is some level of effort on your behalf to grow yourself spiritually. That is a very good thing. Do you want to step up that growth? Do you want to bear even great fruit? Struggle for someone else. Give yourself to encouraging someone in Christ. Serve and give so that it will lead to the knitting together of the church body in love. Speak of Christ and teach His gospel so that others will reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and knowledge of Christ. Find the treasure map and take someone with you as your pursue all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Pursue Christ.

Why Christ?

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Father, show me who You want me to serve and struggle and sacrifice for. Show me who You want me to pour my energies into. Give me the energy to follow Your will. I want to know You. I want others to know You. I want to grow in Christ and I want my knowledge of Him to be fruitful. I don't want to waste my life or the opportunities You give me. I have been given wonderful gifts in Your Son: spiritual circumcision, baptism, the resurrection, new life, total forgiveness, all debts canceled, and removal from the rule of Satan. Your Son and His cross are amazing! Thank You Father. Send me to people and bring people to me who need to hear and grow in the truth of Christ.

Use me Father for Christ
Amen

Hear and Understand

Colossians 1:5&6 "Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, 6 which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,"

Jesus has left us the blessed calling of discipling the nations. We must take the gospel to all of creation. Every person must hear the good news of Jesus Christ. What will mark the Christian as different from the lost person, both after hearing the gospel, is the understanding of grace in the Christian. The Christian will see his need for grace. The Christian will see the free provision of grace in Jesus. The Christian will understand his need for and Christ's provision for forgiveness. We must speak of the preeminence of Christ. The glory of our holy Head should be constantly before our eyes.

Pray to the One who is all that you need.

Paul knew what Jeroboam didn't

I'm not referring to the work of Christ specifically but the contentment of trusting in God. In Philippians 4 Paul wrote, "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me." He had learned to trust the sovereign God who gave what was needed. Paul understood at times what was needed were difficulties and trials which exposed and strengthened the heart. Jeroboam was worried about losing his kingdom. He was more concerned about his earthly stuff than he was concerned about his heavenly Father. Paul trusted and obeyed; Jeroboam did not.

Heavenly Father, the One to whom belongs all honor and glory forever and ever amen. I pray for contentment in You. I pray for my church that You would give us a deep hunger for Christ and provide for us a lasting satisfaction in Him. Do not let me get wrapped up in keeping what I perceive as my kingdom. Do not the church be concerned about keeping their kingdoms. Instead, may we joyfully serve and faithfully give so that Your kingdom would advance. Give us true contentment in Christ so that no matter the plenty or lack we will trust in Christ who gives us strength.

In His Name
Amen

Pray for your Pastor

Here are some specific requests from Philippians chapter two that would be good consistent prayers for your pastor.

From 2:5 "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,"
Father, give my pastor the mind of Christ which is already his in Christ. Give him humility, remove rivalry in his heart, remove rivalry from our church. May there be no hint of selfish ambition but the pleasing aroma of sacrifice. Make my pastor like Jesus.

From 2:16 "holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain."
Father, hold fast to my pastor that he may hold fast to the word of life. May the gospel be his joy and the subject of his preaching. Fill his times of prayer with hope in the gospel that his work might fill your church will the hope of the gospel. Do not let him labor in vain. Do not let him waste his time or energy.

From 2:20 "For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare."
Father, give my pastor a strong pastor's heart. Give him a love for all the curch. May he be genuinely concered for the new members as well as the old. May be be genuinely concerned for the nursery, the children, the youth, the young adults, and the mature adults. Guard him from ignoring people and guard the church from wanting pastor to play favorites.

From 2:30 "for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me."
Father, give my pastor the energy, desire, and love for the work of Christ. Do not let his work be tedious. May his work be joyous. Give him eyes to see the work of Christ so that pastor will even risk his life so that nothing will be lacking. Guide our church and lead our pastor.

Praying Biblical Prayers

Use this in your time of prayer today. Pray this for yourself, for me, and those in your family.

Ephesians 3:14-21

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family [11] in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

We'd have nothing without Him

As I read through Ephesians 1 this morning my need for Christ became evident again. These are the things that I have only in Christ. We're it not for Him none of this would be mine

1. Every spiritual blessing (v.3)
2. I have been chosen in Christ (v.4)
3. My election is for the purpose of being like Christ- holy and blameless (v.4)
4. I have been predestined for adoption through Jesus Christ (v.5)
5. I have grace because of the purpose of God's will and to His praise (v.5&6)
6. In Christ I have redemption through His blood (v.7)
7. In Christ I have forgiveness of my trespasses (v.7) and this not according to works but according to the riches of God's grace
8. God has lavished grace upon me (v.8)
9. God has made known to me the mystery of His will, according to His purpose, which He set forth in Christ (v.9)
10. In Christ I have obtained an inheritance (v.11&14)
11. Because of Christ I now exist for the praise of Christ (v.12)
12. In Christ I have been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (v.13)

So what do we do now? We pray for and seek a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ (v.17). The fruitful Christian life can only be lived as we seek to know Christ more. Fruitfulness is tied directly to abiding in Christ. We do not know hope aside from daily abiding in Christ. We do not know the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints aside from abiding in Christ. We do not know the immeasurable greatness of his power or the working of his great might aside from abiding in Christ.

Father, enlighten my eyes to see Your greatness today. I want to see Jesus. I want to be changed I want to live a life that is to Your praise. I want to worship Christ Jesus with all that I do. Constantly remind me of what Christ has done and what I have in Him. Do not let me grow prideful thinking I deserve Your gifts or I have earned some blessing. Lord, I need a passion for Christ. I need a strong heart so that I may love strongly. I need my Brother's heart. Father, make me more like my Brother. Focus the eyes of my heart on what is true and what is best. Raise up Your church to be what You call it to be. Raise us up to be the outworking of Christ's rule on this earth. Help us God.

In Christ's Name

Amen