First Baptist Church of Venice https://fbcvenice.org Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:01:00 +0000 Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 3600 SnapPages.com Day 41-Conclusion https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/16/day-41-conclusion Sat, 16 Apr 2022 11:03:57 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/16/day-41-conclusion
What About Tomorrow

Philippians 2:10-16 (NLT) You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 14Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

The Holy Spirit spoke through the Apostle Paul reminding us of the sacrifice Jesus made. This sacrifice did not begin with crucifixion but ended there. Jesus’ sacrifice began in eternity past when Jesus gave up His ‘divine privileges' to become human and go through the agonies we encounter culminating with His death in our place on the cross. All His sacrifices were to give glory to God the Father! Paul then says, “Work hard to show the results of your salvation obeying God with deep reverence and fear.” One of the major goals of the 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting is self-discipline. The Holy Spirit wants us to follow God’s Word and leads us in that endeavor. However, it is challenging work to go against our human nature and serve God. The Apostle Paul gave us the example, Jesus, and the purpose, to bring Glory to God our Father!

Behavioral scientists tell us that if we do something for 40 days, we can break old habits and begin new ones. I pray that for you these 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer have allowed this transformation to begin. We Christians have a most blessed opportunity to provide truth and Godly living to a lost and increasingly rebellious culture. It is no longer a supposition that culture is rapidly moving away from God’s Word and God’s Purpose; it is statistically measurable.

We Christians have the potential to live as God planned so that we can give all the glory to God our Father, just like Jesus!

The Apostle Paul gave the following instruction to Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 8So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord.” (2 Timothy 1:7-8a)

power – The Holy Spirit living in us.
love – The Holy Spirit enables us to love God and love the person immediately in front of us.
self-discipline – The Holy Spirit enables us to begin and complete the 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer.

Philippians 1:6 (CSB) I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
 
It is day 41! Let us continue the good work to God’s Glory!
]]> Day 40 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/15/day-40 Fri, 15 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/15/day-40
Paid in Full

April 15, the taxman cometh! Arghh! However, there is some good news. The Internal Revenue Service provides the taxpayer with a filing extension. There are no questions asked. One simply fills out Form 4868 and an automatic extension is granted until October. Ah, but there are a couple of caveats to the extension. One, you must pay your tax debt on April 15th, and two, on the due date for your extension you are still liable for any late taxes you could owe plus penalties.

Matthew 27:24-31 (CSB) When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!” 25All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged handed Him over to be crucified. 27Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the governor’s residence and gathered the whole company around Him. 28They stripped Him and dressed Him in a scarlet robe. 29They twisted together a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and placed a staff in His right hand. And they knelt down before Him and mocked Him: “Hail, king of the Jews!” 30Then they spat on Him, took the staff, and kept hitting Him on the head. 31After they had mocked Him, they stripped Him of the robe, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.

Luke 23:32-34 (CSB) Two others—criminals—were also led away to be executed with Him. 33When they arrived at the place called The Skull, they crucified Him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive
them, because they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided His clothes and cast lots.
 
You may ask what do April 15 and the Internal Revenue Service have in common with Jesus’s crucifixion? I am glad you asked!

Two thousand years ago Jesus paid our sin debt when He gave up His life on the cross. Our life’s extension due date is the day we die. If we have not accepted Jesus’ payment for our sins, then we are responsible for all our debt plus the penalties of separation from God forever and an eternity in hell. But you can avoid all of this!

Revelation 20:11-15 (CSB) Then I saw a great white throne and one seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. 12I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.
Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books. 13Then the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them; each one was judged according to their works. 14Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15And anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

Our federal income tax debt is due and must be paid, even with an extension. Jesus has paid our sin debt. You have from today until your last breath, your extension date, to receive His gift of forgiveness by repenting of your sin and receiving Jesus as your Lord! Do not let your extension date expire when it will be too late!

John 1:12 (CSB) But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
]]> Day 39 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/14/day-39 Thu, 14 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/14/day-39
The Best News Ever

God created a perfect environment for Adam and Eve. He provided for their every need. Satan shows up and both Adam and Eve sin. They are removed from the perfect garden home, must now work hard to stay alive, will suffer pain with having children, and death will become their constant companion.

We can place the major blame for Adam and Eve’s agony on satan. His deceptive manner caught a gullible couple by surprise. However, man is not completely innocent and shares in the blame. Both Adam and Eve had a desire for something “more” than God was providing. The same holds true for us. We, too, look for something “more.” Satan makes promises that he cannot keep. Unfortunately, we keep believing him. But there is some great news for Believers. Satan’s days are numbered, and he will be defeated!

Hebrews 2:14-15 (CSB) Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could He die, and only by dying could He break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15Only in this way could He set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.
 
Revelation 12:7-9 (CSB) Then war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels also fought, 8but he could not prevail, and there was no place for them in heaven any longer. 9So the great dragon was thrown out—the ancient serpent, who is called the devil, and Satan, the one who deceives the whole world. He was thrown to earth and his angels with him.

Revelation 20:10 (CSB) The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 
 
Jesus became a human and submitted Himself to the cross. He was without sin and died in our place. As a result, Jesus broke the power of satan, defeated those angels who aligned themselves with satan, and will throw satan along with all his defeated angels into the lake of fire. There the rebellious, satan, his angels (demons), and people who have not given their lives to Jesus will spend eternity. This does not have to be you!

Romans 10:9-13 (CSB) If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. 11For the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame, 12since there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all richly blesses all who call on him. 13For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
]]> Day 38 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/13/day-38 Wed, 13 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/13/day-38
Stop Messing with Me

“Living rent-free in your mind.” This is a comical expression about a subject that is not funny. It is when a person who harmed you or is taking advantage of you is constantly present in your daily thoughts. Try as you may, you cannot get the thoughts of them out of your mind.

2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (CSB) Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11in order that satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
 
So that satan might not outwit us! The battle against satan originates in the mind, our thoughts. Satan cannot physically overpower a Believer. God said, 1 John 4:4 (CSB) You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One Who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. But he can sure get us thinking the wrong way.
 
2 Corinthians 4:4 (CSB) … the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
 
2 Corinthians 10:4b-5 (CSB) We demolish arguments 5and every proud thing that is raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ.
 
Philippians 4:7 (CSB) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
 
God’s Word, the Bible, is truth. It does not simply contain the truth. It is the truth. The Bible is the main weapon we use against satan. When satan came after Jesus in the wilderness temptation story recorded in Matthew 4, satan did not try to physically overpower Jesus. Satan came after Jesus in His mind, His thoughts, His imagination. Jesus knew the truth and quoted scripture when satan tempted Him. As we read, study, and memorize scripture, we guard against satan’s lies and our own false imaginations that satan uses against us!

Fill your heart, mind, and spirit with the truth, God’s Word, so that satan will not outwit you! Armed with God’s Word tell satan,  “I know the Truth, stop messing with me!”
]]> Day 37 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/12/day-37 Tue, 12 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/12/day-37
Testing is Tough

Are you feeling alone and misunderstood? People will say they understand what you are going through. Yet, if they have not experienced exactly what you are facing, how can they truthfully say, “We know exactly what you are going through?”

One young lady was experiencing the homegoing of her mother. At the funeral home, one of the young lady’s friends and the friend’s mother came through the receiving line to express condolences. The friend said to the grieving lady, “I understand what you are going through.” The friend still had her mother. There is no way she could understand the pain of losing one’s mother. She was well-meaning but out of touch. Jesus does understand what we are going through, and several verses reassure us.
 
Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT) So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same testings we do, yet He did not sin. 16So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 2:18 (NLT) Since He himself has gone through suffering and testing. He is able to help us when we are being tested.

Matthew 4:1 (CSB) Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Life throws many tests at us. People are rude and we are tested to retaliate. People wound us and we are tested to strike back. People say unkind words of gossip about us, and we are tested to return the favor! Friends abandon us and we are so devastated that we are tested to post on Facebook what has been done to us.

Jesus knows exactly what we are experiencing. Jesus faced rude people, religious people who falsely accused Him, judgmental people who twisted His words, abandonment from friends at His most vulnerable time, and a sarcastic sign posted on His cross for the passing crowds to read. He knows exactly what we are facing.

Jesus also asked us to come to Him when we are burdened with the struggles of life.

Matthew 11:28-29 (CSB) Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
 
Only Jesus can provide you with real rest! Bring your life to Him!
]]> Day 36 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/11/day-36 Mon, 11 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/11/day-36
The Final Kick

Long-distance runners have always fascinated me. The stamina, tenacity, strong will, and indomitable spirit push these racers beyond normal human endurance. Near the end of their long race, even running at a sprinter's pace, they will begin the final kick. Somewhere deep within, the exhausted runner will summon an incredible reserve to run at an accelerated pace to the finish line.

Our 40 days of fasting and prayer is nearing the finish line. Many have focused on a special time to be with God. Many others have eliminated certain things that have been either a spiritual or physical drain. There are some things we believe we cannot live without. 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer have provided us an opportunity to evaluate these self-imposed restrictions. If we can discipline ourselves to be controlled by God’s Holy Spirit around food, we have increased stamina to say NO to other matters that could bring us harm. We have learned that self-denial and self-discipline are great probes into our hearts.

God’s Word relates to an event near the finish line of the Apostle Paul. He is in prison and discerns he will soon be executed. For over 30 years Paul has preached the Gospel under the most trying of circumstances. Soon after Paul’s salvation, the prophet Ananias told him, “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name” (Acts 9:15-16). Paul did suffer but never wavered from his calling to establish churches and expand the Gospel.

Paul has been training a young Christian man to continue the ministry after Paul’s death. We hear the last conversation from Paul to Timothy, “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8There is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Paul’s “final sprint to the finish line” was teaching, instructing, and encouraging other Christians, especially Timothy.

Our last week of the 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer can be emblematic of our continued ministry in the Kingdom of God. We can be victorious over the sin and temptations that are our frequent nemesis, not simply in the 40 days campaign but also the remainder of our lives. 40 days develops our stamina to complete our race to the finish line of life. Let us continue to say, “No!” to any area of our lives where we have felt defeat. 40 days has been the start. Let us finish strong!
]]> Day 35 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/10/day-35 Sun, 10 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/10/day-35
Next Time A Horse

John 12:12-16 (NLT) The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13took palm branches and went down the road to meet Him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” 14Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: 15“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.” 16His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about Him.
 
The prophet Zechariah had written 500 years earlier about the Messiah coming into Jerusalem riding on a donkey. The crowds that shouted that Jesus is the Messiah were some of the same people that would just four days later cry out for His crucifixion. The disciples and the crowd did not understand what was happening! Jesus would soon offer Himself as the sacrifice for their sin and our sin. The Messiah came humbly riding on a donkey this time!

The events recorded in John about a prophecy written 500 years earlier were in themselves a prophecy about a far distant event that would one day take place!

Revelation 19:11-16 (NLT) Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for He judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12His eyes were like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns. A name was written on Him that no one understood except Himself. 13He wore a robe dipped in blood, and His title was the Word of God. 14The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed Him on white horses. 15From His mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16On His robe at His thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
 
Today, Palm Sunday 2022, we remember the events of 2,000 years ago when the Jerusalem crowds briefly welcomed a humble Messiah riding alone on a donkey, only a few days later to see Him die on a Roman cross.

John, later writing in the Revelation, said the entire world will see Jesus, the Messiah, as we welcome Him riding a white horse as the True and reigning King of Kings and Lord of Lords. This year we welcome Him humbly by riding alone on a donkey soon to be crucified. The next time we will welcome Him riding a mighty white horse and coming with a Heavenly Army to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
]]> Day 34 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/09/day-34 Sat, 09 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/09/day-34
What A Coincidence

Merriam-Webster defines coincidence as the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection.
 
Christians define coincidence as the occurrence of events that happen at the same time and God chooses to remain anonymous.
 
This is perfectly illustrated in the story of Ruth and Boaz as recorded in the Book of Ruth. Notice the phrases that are underlined.

Ruth 2:1-6 (NLT) Now there was a wealthy and influential man in Bethlehem named Boaz, who was a relative of Naomi’s husband, Elimelech. 2One day Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go out into the harvest fields to pick up the stalks of grain left behind by anyone who is kind enough to let me do it.” Naomi replied, “All right, my daughter, go ahead.” 3So Ruth went out to gather grain behind the harvesters. And as it happened, she found herself working in a field that belonged to Boaz, the relative of her father-in-law, Elimelech. 4While she was there, Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters. “The Lord be with you!” he said. “The Lord bless you!” the harvesters replied. 5Then Boaz asked his foreman, “Who is that young woman over there? Who does she belong to?” 6And the foreman replied, “She is the young woman from Moab who came back with Naomi. 7She asked me this morning if she could gather grain behind the harvesters. She has been hard at work ever since, except for a few minutes’ rest in the shelter.”

One day, and as it happened, while she was there, are all highly informative words to let us know God was making things happen! The Bible did not say “So God moved on Ruth’s behalf.” From Ruth and Boaz’s perspective, God was being anonymous in bringing God’s purpose for Ruth and Boaz into fulfillment.

Hundreds of years later we read, Matthew 1:5-6 (NLT) Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. 6Jesse was the father of King David. … 16Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah.
 
Boaz married Ruth. They had a grandson who was King David and several generations later Mary would give birth to Jesus our Messiah! What a coincidence! Chance encounters, impeccable timing, miraculous results; all according to God’s plan and purpose.

God has plans and a purpose for you! Some events that take place in our lives where we say, “I was lucky” or “What a coincidence” are often God working His plan into our life’s purpose! It is incredible and no coincidence that God includes us in His plans! So, instead of saying, “I was lucky” we should say, “Thank you God for your blessings!”

What a coincidence – NOT!
]]> Day 33 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/08/day-33 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/08/day-33
How Hard Is That

Philippians 1:3-8 (CSB) I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Genuine friendships are a rare blessing. Sure, there are people with whom you may have interactions, and these are often called friends. But a genuine friend with whom you can be open and honest; these are exceedingly rare. You have encountered that person with whom you were open to later discover that friend told other people what was happening in your life. Sometimes this is housed in, “We need to pray for Paul because he is having a struggle with alcohol.” Praying for someone can be a stealthy way of gossiping!

The Apostle Paul penned Philippians while he was under house arrest in Rome. Paul could have been executed at any time with the tyrant Nero as Caesar of the Roman Empire. Paul needed comfort and support. He wrote to authentic Christian friends whom he knew would really pray for him! They would not criticize Paul to others because of Paul’s predicament. They would not judge Paul to others about Paul’s ability to rile the authorities. Paul had other people who had befriended him but later deserted him when the pressure was on. But Paul knew these friends were willing to risk their lives in the partnership of the Gospel. They too were telling others about Jesus the Messiah. These friends had ‘skin in the game’. Paul could count on them.

Paul had genuine friends. Are you a genuine friend? Friendship is a two-way endeavor. When you are a genuine friend that can be counted on by others, these friends will be there for you in your time of need. To have a genuine friend is to first be a genuine friend. How hard is that?
]]> Day 32 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/07/day-32 Thu, 07 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/07/day-32
Unexpected Blessing

1 Corinthians 15:58 (CSB) So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
 
It is normal human nature to expect a thank you for doing something nice for other people. We may overlook an occasional gratitude slight, but a repeated “you are taking me for granted” is often met with a refusal to help anymore. If ‘they’ do not care enough to notice my good deeds, why should I continue?

Do you ever wonder if God notices when you are helping others? Does God care if you assist other people, even when the other person shows no appreciation? The following Scripture answers those questions.

Ruth was a Moabite widow who had returned with her Jewish mother-in-law, Naomi. Years earlier during a famine, Naomi had gone to Moab with her two sons and her husband. In Moab, her sons married Moabite women, but the sons and husband died. Ruth had returned to Bethlehem. Ruth, a non-Jew, had accompanied her. Two widows had to glean the leftover grain from a harvest to survive. God led Ruth to the field of a wealthy man named Boaz.

Ruth 2:8-12 (NLT) Boaz went over and said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Stay right here with us when you gather grain; don’t go to any other fields. Stay right behind the young women working in my field. 9See which part of the field they are harvesting, and then follow them. I have warned the young men not to treat you roughly. And when you are thirsty, help yourself to the water they have drawn from the well.” 10Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. “What have I done to deserve such kindness?” she asked. “I am only a foreigner.” 11“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied. “But I also know about everything you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband. I have heard how you left your father and mother and your own land to live here among complete strangers. 12May the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, reward you fully for what you have done.”
 
Ruth did not have to leave her home country to take care of her aging former mother-in-law. But she did. Ruth did not have to work hard to get enough grain for two people. But she did. Did anyone notice Ruth’s sacrifice to help Naomi? God did!

Boaz said he had heard all about Ruth. Why had Boaz been told about Ruth? How or why did Ruth pick Boaz’s field? Why did Boaz show up just as Ruth was gleaning? The answer is obvious. God saw and God acted! When you give to help others, God gives to help you. Your motivation is not giving to get. Your motivation should be giving your time, energy, and sometimes your resources to simply help others, period. God sees and God provides!
]]> Day 31 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/06/day-31 Wed, 06 Apr 2022 05:42:19 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/06/day-31
Moving Towards Christ

There are interesting and ironic twists concerning Jesus and His ministry on Earth. One of those events is recorded by Mark.

Blindness was a widespread problem in Jesus’ time. There were very few cures. The Jewish and Roman cultures had very little concern or care for blind people. In fact, most Jewish people saw blindness as a punishment either for the blind person’s sins or the sins of the blind person’s parents. So, money, food, and care came only from begging! Mark records the unusual circumstances of a blind man’s encounter with Jesus at the gate of Jericho.

Mark 10:46-52 (CSB) They came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting by the road. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48Many warned him to keep quiet, but he was crying out all the more, “Have mercy on me, Son of David!” 49Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man and said to him, “Have courage! Get up; he’s calling for you.” 50He threw off his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51Then Jesus answered him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabboni,” the blind man said to him, “I want to see.” 52Jesus said to him, “Go, your faith has saved you.” Immediately he could see and began to follow Jesus on the road.

The ironic twist is not that people were telling the blind man to stop bothering Jesus. It was that the blind man jumped up and came to Jesus. One would expect the blind man to remain seated and that Jesus would come to him. After all, the man was blind! The blind man was so desperate to see that nothing would keep him from getting to Jesus; not raucous crowds, not fear of losing his coat, or a blind walk! The blind man concluded that if he could get to Jesus, Jesus would heal his blindness.

Jesus is the cure for what cripples you. This could be fear, addiction, broken relationships, or lack of purpose. Jesus is calling for you. Don’t let the advice from others, or the uncertainty of calling out to Jesus keep you from living your life to the fullest! Jesus is calling. Get up and run to Him!
]]> Day 30 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/05/day-30 Tue, 05 Apr 2022 07:30:54 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/05/day-30
Being Told, No!

History records that on April 5, 1792, President George Washington cast the First Presidential veto. How do you respond when you are told, no! There are times when a “No” is the best thing that could happen.

Throughout high school, I had various paying jobs. Since my parents picked up 99% of my expenses, this money went into my savings. My Sunday school teacher was going into the Navy and decided to sell his Corvette. Since I was tired of driving my parent’s four-door, two-tone land yacht, I went to my dad and asked permission to buy the red, Corvette convertible! The cost of the car was not the problem, I had more than enough money. The cost of the insurance was no problem, I was working. There was no reason to say no. But my dad did the unthinkable, he said an emphatic, “No!” He never gave me a reason, just, no! I gave a polite rebuttal. His decision was not deterred. My driving would continue in the four-door sedan. No is not easy to take!

Jesus had ministered for over three years. During His time in Israel, Jesus had said directly and indirectly that He would be crucified. The time for the crucifixion had arrived and Jesus faced the inevitable appointment with the cross. The night before His arrest Jesus sought the permission of the Father to move away from the cross.

Matthew 26:36-46 (CSB) Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he told the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38He said to them, “I am deeply grieved to the point of death. Remain here and stay awake with me.” 39Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” 40Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. He asked Peter, “So, couldn’t you stay awake with me one hour? 41Stay awake and pray, so that you won’t enter into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again, a second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43And he came again and found them sleeping, because they could not keep their eyes open. 44After leaving them, he went away again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? See, the time is near. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Get up; let’s go. See, my betrayer is near.”

Three times Jesus asked His Father to let Jesus avoid the crucifixion. Three times the Father’s non-response was a “No.” Jesus had to go to the cross. In each case, the Father did not provide a reason for the understood, no.

The Bible and history provide us the reason for the no.

John 3:16-17 (CSB) For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
 
Galatians 2:20 (CSB) I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

God the Father said, “No” to Jesus so that you and I could have eternal life. Saying “No” to Jesus was the best thing that could happen to us!

Have you said, “Yes” to the Father by receiving Jesus as your Savior?

John 1:12 (CSB) But to all who did receive Him, He gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in His name, ... 
]]> Day 29 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/04/day-29 Mon, 04 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/04/day-29
Little Things

John 1:40-42 (CSB) Andrew … was one of the two who heard John [the Baptist] and followed him. 41He first found his own brother …and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated “the Christ”), 42and he brought …[him] to Jesus. A simple invitation from one brother to another. It is amazing what difference a ‘little thing’ can make.

In 1975 the United States Congress designated the metric system as "the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce". This sounds reasonable. The US wanted to be consistent with the rest of the world with our weights and measurements.

In 1999 NASA worked with Lockheed Martin in developing the Mars Climate Orbiter. NASA specified metric units in the contract. Lockheed did not read the contract correctly and did not deliver its figures in metric units. The Mars Climate Orbiter descended to low and disintegrated in the Mars atmosphere. A simple math conversion would have eliminated a 330-million-dollar mistake.

Little things can have tremendous consequences. It was a little thing for Andrew to invite his brother to meet Jesus. Andrew and his brother grew up together. They were in the same family business. They worked together every day. It was a little thing. But what happened as a result of the little decision Andrew made to invite his brother to meet Jesus?

Andrew’s brother became the Apostle Peter! Peter would become the leader of the other apostles and the central person Jesus would use for the establishment of the New Testament Church.
Matthew 16:16-18 (CSB)  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.”

Peter preached the first public sermon after Jesus was resurrected and the church exploded in growth. Acts 2:41 (CSB) So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand people were added to them.

Little things can make a difference.

We are focused on 40 days of fasting and prayer. Taking only 40 days to focus on God’s direction in our lives, is a little thing. Taking one day to fast from food to focus on God’s purpose for our lives, is a little thing. Taking 40 days to restrict an area in our lives that brings us into defeat, is a little thing. These little things can make a big difference in the way we will live for the rest of our lives. Little things can make a difference.
]]> Day 28 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/03/day-28 Sun, 03 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/03/day-28
“Who Needs Instructions”

It is remarkably interesting to see how some people view instructions. Some have the thought: “When all else fails, read the instructions.” There is a humorous anecdote about men not seeking directions when they are noticeably lost. “I know where I am going. Anyway, a map (or the GPS) is simply another man’s opinion.” This type of attitude is usually faced with repeated attempts for corrective action.

Too often the Bible is mistakenly placed in this same category by both men and women. We will read the Bible and agree with what it says about life in general. But when our life comes to a specific obstruction, crisis, or predicament then we move on to treating God’s Word as simply ‘another man’s opinion.’ Perhaps one of the most difficult cautions in the Bible is the one regarding forgiveness.

Colossians 3:12-13 (CSB) Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, 13bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.

Unfortunately, when we are wronged, holding a grudge seems to be the appropriate action to take. “Don’t get angry, get even” is a dangerous lifestyle resulting in personal internal injury to ourselves and collateral damage to others we love. God’s Word says,
Hebrews 12:14-15 (CSB) “Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness—without it no one will see the Lord. 15Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many”.

Unforgiveness develops bitterness which acts as an internal toxin slowly destroying and causing hurt to those around you. As another writer said, “Unforgiveness is like you drinking poison expecting the other person to die.”

Matthew 18:21-35 adds even greater depth to the issue of unforgiveness and the pain caused to the person injured, not the perpetrator. Peter approached Jesus and asked Jesus how many times should he forgive a person who had wronged him. Peter guessed 7 times. Jesus corrected Peter by saying not 7 times 7 but 70 times 7. Jesus added that if a person were unwilling to forgive, God would allow a tormentor to inflict pain on the unforgiving person until forgiveness was given. “So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart” (Matthew 18:35).

Just as the Lord has forgiven us, we should forgive others. Forgiving others, even before they ask to be forgiven or even if they never ask for forgiveness, frees us from pain and bitterness.

Let’s take a scenic detour in our journey of life. Fasting is most often thought of in terms of doing without food. How about an alternate direction in this notion that fasting only involves food? Fast retaliation and vindictiveness against anyone who has caused you pain.

God’s Word is the ultimate GPS, God’s Positioning System. God’s Word is not simply another person’s opinion. God’s directions are the only ones that will lead you safely home!
]]> Day 27 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/02/day-27 Sat, 02 Apr 2022 17:41:18 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/02/day-27
The Day After

As a child I loved Christmas. The excitement would build from Thanksgiving until the big night when Santa would arrive. Rainbow Mattress Company had a bedroom showroom window. Santa would be seen sleeping in the bed. However, at sunset on Christmas Eve, Santa was gone! I could hardly wait till morning!

But as excited as I was for Christmas to arrive, the day after Christmas was a letdown. It was not that I had been disappointed with my gifts. I was blessed. But something was missing. All the presents were gone. The Christmas tree seemed to be empty, and the lights now seemed to be out of place. I am not being a downer here, but something was missing the day after Christmas.

In Matthew Jesus talks about a grand event that was soon to take place.
Matthew 25:1-13 (NLT) [Jesus said] “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6“At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ 7“All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9“But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’ 10“But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’ 12“But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ 13“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

The grand event was a wedding. Jewish weddings were dependent on many factors as to their start time. Those invited had to be ready.

This parable is a prophecy regarding the second coming of Jesus. The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Only Believers have the Holy Spirit. So, the bridesmaids who were prepared represent Believers who will go to be with Jesus when He returns. The foolish ones represent religious people but not true Believers. Religious but lost!

Like my feeling of emptiness the day after Christmas, something will definitely be missing the day after Jesus returns. If you do not have Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you will be missing from being with Jesus.

Romans 10:9-13 (NLT) If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. 11As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.” 12Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. 13For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Do not be left behind the day after Jesus returns.
]]> Day 26 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/01/day-26 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/04/01/day-26
Atheist’s Holiday

Psalm 14:1a (CSB) The fool says in his heart, “There’s no God.”
They are corrupt; they do vile deeds.
 
April 1 is called by some National Atheist’s Day. The first Atheist Day was a prank story published in 2003. Atheist Day was originally about a fictional case of an atheist who had decided to sue the government. The reason for the fictional lawsuit was a simple one—all the major religions have a national holiday, but there was no special day for non-religious people. The judge then ruled that April 1st (i.e. April Fool’s Day) was to be forever remembered as National Atheist’s day.

While the story fits well for an April 1 prank, foolishly living without God is no laughing matter. Proverbs is part of the Wisdom Literature of the Bible authored by the Holy Spirit and penned by Solomon. See what God has to say about a ‘fool’.

Proverbs 1:7 (CSB) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:32 (CSB) For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
 
Proverbs 3:35 (NLT) The wise inherit honor, but fools are put to shame!

Proverbs 6:32 (NLT) But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys himself.

Proverbs 10:8 (NLT) The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

Proverbs 10:18 (NLT) Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.

Proverbs 10:21 (NLT) The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

Proverbs 12:16 (NLT) A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted.

Proverbs 13:16 (NLT) Wise people think before they act; fools don’t—and even brag about their foolishness.

Proverbs 13:20 (NLT) Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

Proverbs 14:9 (NLT) Fools make fun of guilt, but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

Proverbs 14:16 (NLT) The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.

Proverbs 15:14 (NLT) A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.

Proverbs 18:2 (NLT) Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.

Proverbs 20:3 (NLT) Avoiding a fight is a mark of honor; only fools insist on quarreling.

Proverbs 29:11 (NLT) Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.

You have made a wise decision by reading God’s Word about a fool. Now, let’s live by God’s Word every day and avoid any trap of the ultimate fool, satan!
]]> Day 25 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/31/day-25 Thu, 31 Mar 2022 08:12:24 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/31/day-25
A Delay to Prayer is not Always, NO!

Waiting is a condition most of us want to avoid. Your doctor’s appointment is at 10:00 and you are called at 10:30 just to wait in a closet-sized examination room for another 30 minutes. When you are in a hurry, the draw bridge is up. If you are going to the motor vehicle office, bring a chair. However, one of the most frustrating ‘waits’ is when you phone a business and the person answering the phone says, “I am with another customer, do you mind waiting?” Then they cut you off before you can respond, “Yes, I mind waiting!”

Waiting for an answer to prayer is another issue. When we pray, we want instant results. God does not always respond to our timing. The Prophet Samuel told King Saul to wait seven days for God’s answer to prayer. He did not and suffered the consequences.

Noah waited 100 years for the rain to begin. Imagine his joy when the first drops began to fall! Abraham was promised a son, but he had to wait ten years before God miraculously provided him with a son. Imagine his joy when he heard the cry of his newborn son! Joseph waited over 13 years to have the fulfillment of his dreams. Imagine his joy when he realized his pain brought physical salvation to his family. David was anointed king of Israel, but he had to wait 15 years before he was crowned king. During the wait, David was hunted and persecuted. Imagine his joy when the crown was placed on his head! The Biblical list is lengthy for those who had to wait for the promise of God to come to pass.

Habakkuk 1:2-4 (CSB) How long, Lord, must I call for help and you do not listen or cry out to you about violence, and you do not save? 3Why do you force me to look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Oppression and violence are right in front of me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict escalates. 4This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore, justice comes out perverted.

The prophet Habakkuk struggled with some of the same issues we struggle with. It seemed that God was delaying His response to Habakkuk’s distress. Calamities were abounding and God appeared to be silent and removed. However, God was neither silent nor removed. God was working in a powerful way behind the scenes.

Habakkuk 2:1-3 (CSB) I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what he will say to me and what I should reply about my complaint. The Lord answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. 3For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late.
 
God promised to answer. God did not say the answer would be immediate. God’s timing is ALWAYS perfect, but not often synchronized with ours.

The flood came and Noah’s family was preserved. Abraham did have a son in perfect timing with God’s will. Joseph was promoted from the prison to the palace. David was crowned king of Israel in perfect timing with God’s will. All in God’s perfect timing. God was working all things out, behind the scenes.

Delay does not necessarily mean no. When we pray according to God’s will and desire God’s will for our lives, we have complete confidence God will answer our prayer.

Romans 8:28 (CSB) We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Imagine your joy when your prayer is answered! Pray!
]]> Day 24 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/30/day-24 Wed, 30 Mar 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/30/day-24
Seeing Ahead by Faith

Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
 
Let’s set a few things in order. You know, like discussing the elephant in the room. We will not ignore it any longer.

We have wanted to conquer a stumbling block in our lives. A secret sin that challenges us and too often seems to overcome our will to resist. It is that secret thing that is not discussed publicly but you long to be free from it!

Maybe it is not a sin but a regret. Something that happened in your past you so wish you could undo. Maybe it was abandonment from a parent. Perhaps it was a lost opportunity that given another chance, you would have stepped up. You have tried to erase it, but it wakes you up at night!

Exodus 15:2 (NLT) The Lord is my strength and my song; He has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise Him— my father’s God, and I will exalt Him!

Moses sings a victory song in Exodus 15 because God had overcome the pursuing Egyptian Army which had as its goal to enslave all the Hebrew people.
 
Victory is a great emotion. Merriam-Webster defines victory as
      1: the overcoming of an enemy or antagonist.
      2: achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties

40 Days of Fasting and Prayer is a wonderful time to focus on it and by faith believe that God will provide the power to overcome it.

If it is a sin, by faith believe that God will provide you the spiritual power to overcome it.

If it is a regret, by faith believe God will give you the freedom from letting it control your future.

2 Timothy 1:7 (GNT) For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead, His Spirit fills us with power, love, and self-control.

By faith receive God’s victory over it. God provides the power, and we give Him the glory. As Moses sang the victory song, so can we! This is my God, and I will praise Him!
]]> Day 23 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/29/day-23 Tue, 29 Mar 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/29/day-23
Finding Real Peace

Conflict seems to be a daily onslaught coming from the news media or from our personal encounters. From the war in Ukraine to the potential for food shortages in the USA, most people are looking for a place of peace. Too sad that most people are looking in the wrong place. King David expressed this longing for a place of peace.

Psalm 55:4-8 (CSB) My heart shudders within me; terrors of death sweep over me. 5Fear and trembling grip me; horror has overwhelmed me. 6I said, “If only I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and find rest. 7How far away I would flee; I would stay in the wilderness. 8I would hurry to my shelter from the raging wind and the storm.”

Whether escaping to a crowded Disney location or to a secluded wilderness cabin, peace is not discovered there. No, peace is not found in a place but in a person!

Philippians 1:2 (CSB) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT) You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 4Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

Philippians 4:7 (CSB) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Only God the Father through Jesus Christ can provide peace. God provides peace but we must incorporate that peace into our lives. There are four aspects to this promise of peace.

  1. Peace only comes from God the Father through Jesus.
  2. We must fix our thoughts on His promises found in the Bible. Trust God and trust His Word.
  3. God’s peace will guard our hearts. Our emotions will not get out of control.
  4. God’s peace will guard our minds. We will make wise mental decisions because our emotions are not controlling our lives.

We will not be able to comprehend the peace we experience in our hearts and our minds, but peace will be there. It is a gift from God.

Keep in mind that peace is not in a place but in a person! God our Father through Jesus Christ His son!
]]> Day 22 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/28/day-22 Mon, 28 Mar 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/28/day-22
Embarrassed to Pray

Embarrassed, uncomfortable, awkward are situations we want to avoid at all costs. When we even think we could find ourselves in such a position, we move in another direction. Do you feel this way when you consider praying?

One time I was asked to assist in a funeral service at a church of another denomination. The service was for a man who attended First Baptist Church, but his wife attended another. She wanted the service in her church, so I was invited to participate.

The church had certain worship service protocols that I did not know. With me sitting on the front row, it was impossible to watch others when they stood and when they sat. So, I would hear a sound and try to discretely look over my shoulder to see what was happening. They were standing and I was not. Again, a sound, they were sitting, and I was still standing. Now, repeat this multiple times in a 45-minute service. I was embarrassed, uncomfortable, and felt very awkward.

How do you feel when you pray? Do you feel awkward, not knowing what to say? Are you supposed to use some type of prayer words like those used in an old translation of the Bible? Are you supposed to get a religious person to pray for you? Prayer should not be awkward. Awkwardness develops embarrassment. We should never be embarrassed to pray. Let’s look at some examples of prayer in the Bible.

Psalm 38:19-21 (CSB) But my enemies are vigorous and powerful; many hate me for no reason. 20Those who repay evil for good attack me for pursuing good. 21Lord, do not abandon me; my God, do not be far from me.
 
Have you felt opposition? “Lord, do not abandon me!”
 
Luke 18:13 (CSB) “But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
 
In Jesus' time, tax collectors were considered the worst of sinners. When you feel that you have sinned, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner!”
 
A blind man heard that Jesus was walking past him. Notice two prayers he asked of Jesus.

Luke 18:38-41 (NLT) So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, [1] have mercy on me!” 39Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him. When he came closer, He asked him, 41“What do you want me to do for you?” [2] “Lord,” he said, “I want to see.”
 
What blind spots do you have? What uncertainties of the future are you facing? “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see.”
 
Prayer should never be awkward. Prayer is not complicated. Prayer is simply talking to God, our Father, through Jesus our Lord. You do not feel embarrassed, uncomfortable, or awkward when you talk to your best friend. Talk to Jesus as you would talk to your absolute best friend. Remember, He is the best friend you will ever have!
]]> Day 21 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/27/day-21 Sun, 27 Mar 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/27/day-21
Your Prayers Are Powerful

Never underestimate the power of your prayers. Satan may try to convince you that your prayers do not matter. Satan may try to tell you, you do not pray correctly or your life is too imperfect to pray. All of these are lies. Remember, satan’s primary language is lying.

James 5:16 (NLT) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
 
The Bible has many wonderful true stories of brave people who responded to God’s call. Queen Esther is one.

The Jewish people had rebelled against God’s Word and as a result, had been conquered by a foreign enemy. Many of the Jewish people were deported to other countries. Esther was an orphan raised by her cousin, Mordecai. She was a beautiful young woman and through a series of God-directed circumstances had gone from commoner to Queen.
 
Ester’s uncle, Mordecai, learned of a plot by an evil man to have all the Jewish people murdered and their possessions confiscated. Mordecai then went to Esther asking her to intercede with the King so that the Jews could be spared. Esther knew that the ruthless king would not allow anyone to come before him without a prior invitation. This could mean death to anyone, including the Queen.

However, the situation was so critical that Esther was willing to risk her own life to save her people.

Esther 4:15-16 (NLT) Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16“Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”
 
Queen Esther was initially afraid to go before the King without an invitation. She knew she could be put to death. Mordecai challenged Esther with this statement, …“Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Esther 4:14b (NLT)

Esther did pray and fast. Three days later she went to the King, uninvited. God had intervened in the heart of the King. He summoned Esther into his presence and asked her to speak. Esther pleaded her heart for her Jewish people. The King responded favorably and the Jewish people were miraculously spared.

Like Esther, the earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. This is a promise to all Christ-followers, true Christians. Your prayers are powerful and effective. You are alive now for such a challenging time as this.

Continue to fast and pray as a church family for First Baptist and the Lakefront Churches to be the Church God has called us to be. Fast and pray for your family. Fast and pray for your friends.

Fast and pray for your community. Fast and pray for your nation. Fast and pray for the Ukrainian people to be victorious!

You are alive now! Your prayers are needed. Your prayers are powerful and produce wonderful results.
]]> Day 20 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/26/day-20 Sat, 26 Mar 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/26/day-20
Winning in Secret

There is great personal satisfaction when you have a victory over an area in your life you do not want to publicly disclose. You have a hidden sin that is debilitating and unseen by others. Perhaps you are good at concealing pornography or too much alcohol or pain medication or gossip or flirting or profanity. During these 40 days, you find God’s strength to say no to those secret sins. No one knows. No one sees. But you do! You find exhilaration in your spirit as God gives you these secret wins!

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 (NLT) If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Secret wins are those times when temptations are strong, yet you do not surrender. No one sees your victory. It is invisible, but you know deep in your heart that God has empowered you to say no to the tempter! You walk away joyful for what the Holy Spirit has accomplished in your life! A secret win is a great emotion. You give glory to God.

One small secret win added to another win, and you begin to see God’s power delivering you from those tough sins that have enslaved you. Fasting from food and fasting from anything that you have very little resistance to reject begins to develop you into a powerful Christian witness!
 
Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT) You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
 
I pray that today, God’s power and your self-discipline will give you many secret wins! You gain the victory and God receives the glory; a Spiritual win-win!
]]> Day 19 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/25/day-19 Fri, 25 Mar 2022 09:52:24 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/25/day-19
Fasting That Is Blessed by God

Fasting as a church family is sundown Thursday to sundown Friday. Of course, you may fast anytime and as often as you wish. Please make sure you have cleared things with your doctor if there are any underlying medical conditions.

Fasting may also involve restricting your intake of anything problematic for you. These can include social media, current news, sweets, television, overeating, etc.

One thing fasting should not become is a sense of doing something religious and then living your life according to your standard. In 1095 AD the Roman Catholic Church adopted “indulgences”. These were either gifts of service or gifts of money to the Catholic Church so a person could indulge in sin. An “indulgence” was offered to lessen punishment from God for a sin committed. This is not what fasting is about! Fasting is allowing the Holy Spirit living in you to discipline your physical body to say “No” to something that causes you grief. If a person can control our ‘mouth gate’ we will find it easier to control other areas of our lives. The prophet Isaiah makes this clear.

Isaiah 58 (NLT) Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast. Shout aloud! Don’t be timid. Tell my people Israel of their sins! 2Yet they act so pious! They come to the Temple every day and seem delighted to learn all about me. They act like a righteous nation that would never abandon the laws of its God. They ask me to take action on their behalf, pretending they want to be near me. 3‘We have fasted before you!’ they say. ‘Why aren’t you impressed? We have been very hard on ourselves, and you don’t even notice it!’ “I will tell you why!” I respond. “It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves. Even while you fast, you keep oppressing your workers. 4What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarreling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with me. 5You humble yourselves by going through the motions of penance, bowing your heads like reeds bending in the wind. You dress in burlap and cover yourselves with ashes. Is this what you call fasting? Do you really think this will please the Lord? 6“No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. 7Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. 8“Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. 9Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. “Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! 10Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon. 11The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. 12Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes. 13“Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day, but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day. Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. 14Then the Lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Fasting to impress God is an exercise in futility! Fasting should always be done to strengthen our resolve to honor God with our lives.
]]> Day 18 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/25/day-18 Fri, 25 Mar 2022 09:18:59 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/25/day-18
Do We Have Bragging Rights

Most of us are irritated with excessive bragging. Watching a professional football game with excessive celebrations when a touchdown is scored, or a tackle is executed becomes very annoying. Touchdowns and tackles are expected. Being pleased with an exceptional play is reasonable. It would be better if a player lets his teammates pat him on the back rather than the player patting himself on the chest!

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (CSB) But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

The apostle Paul boasted about his weaknesses. Bragging on one’s weaknesses is certainly something we do not see in a selfie-generated culture. It seems that people excessively brag about everything they have accomplished! The Apostle Paul chooses an entirely different approach. Instead of relying on himself, the Apostle Paul knew that God would provide the power of the Holy Spirit for Paul to accomplish supernatural results. It was God, not Paul who won people to Christ, established churches, trained Believers, and escaped vicious attacks. Can you imagine taking pleasure in being insulted and suffering persecution? That was Paul!

Weaknesses are usually the way out of doing something. For us to be successful, we rely on our strengths, what we are best at doing. But that is not the way God works in His people. Moses said he was slow in speech. The Hebrew word is a ‘heavy’ tongue. Moses said he could not talk well in front of people. Yet God overcame this weakness of Moses and Moses spoke to the ruler of the most powerful nation on earth at that time, Pharoah, Ruler of Egypt!

Abraham was the founding father of the Jewish nation. God came to Abraham and told him, at age 100 and his wife Sarah at age 90, they would have a son. They both thought this was impossible. Abraham doubted and Sarah laughed. One year later Isaac was born. God moves in the impossible!

Moses was weak. Abraham and Sarah were weak. Paul was weak. God moved powerfully through weak people to accomplish the impossible! Where are you weak? Be encouraged, God is seeking to empower you!

Hebrews 4:14-16 (NLT) So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

God desires to accomplish His purpose through you. We may see our weakness as a dilemma when God sees our weakness as a destiny. Then we give God the glory for what only He can accomplish! God is there for us when we need Him the most!
]]> Day 17 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/23/day-17 Wed, 23 Mar 2022 01:01:00 +0000 https://fbcvenice.org/blog/2022/03/23/day-17
Running Out of Water
 
On March 22, 1903, Niagara Falls ran out of water. Historians record that the water had stopped flowing because of a draught.

Water is life. When there is no water, life fails to exist!

We sometimes feel as if we have run out of water. Not the physical H2O variety but the emotional. Life can drain us to the point we feel dried up. We may cry until there are no more tears. We can suffer until the draught of life runs us dry! Then God steps in for the Believer!

Psalm 23:4-5 (CSB) Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
 
Israel’s King David penned the 23rd Psalm. Being a shepherd before God made him king, David knew what life was like in the arid environment of Israel. From May until October the temperature is extremely hot, and rain is absent. A good shepherd would make sure his sheep had water.

Also, note that David said when we go through the darkest valley my cup overflows. When times are tough God, our heavenly Shepherd makes sure our emotional cup has the water of life. God never leaves us and never fails to provide all we need. Even when we may feel life has ‘dried us up.’

Jesus takes our emotional water reserve even farther. John 4:38-39a (CSB) “The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.” 39He said this about the [Holy] Spirit….”
 
Christians have the Holy Spirit living in them. The Holy Spirit is like a free-flowing spring and provides us with the essence of life, living water! Jesus promised that no matter what we face, no matter what we encounter, no matter what the enemy may throw at us, we always have the ‘water of life’ to carry on! Our cup overflows!
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