Faithful Steward Ministries and FSM Women's Outreach
Christian Outreach Ministry to those Incarcerated, with Addictions and our Military
In an eloquent defense of life, marriage, and religious liberty known as The Manhattan Declaration, authors Chuck Colson, Professor Robert George, and Dr. Timothy George wrote, “There is no more eloquent defense of the rights and duties of religious conscience than the one offered by Martin Luther King, Jr., in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail.”
This morning among my devotionals and bible verse reads was this gem. It got me thinking about all the grumblings or murmurings I have done this past year. Not intentionally mind you but I am sure some of my posts related to my frustration with the current political climate in America came across as grumbling and murmurings.
It is human nature to complain. I do not think it is biblically wrong to complain, I but I strongly believe it is biblically wrong to grumble and murmur, v.14.
In context, Paul here v.12-18 is explaining how we as Christians ought to live. The emphasis is, look at what Christ has done for us, and you are complaining about a little difficulty in life?
Again even applying outside the Spiritual, we can point out the issues of the world without seeming like just another angry complainer. Of course, God through Paul does not leave us on our own, v.15 prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness].
In other words, if you are going to open your mouth do so in such a manner that Glorifies God and edifies the body of Christ (the church).
There is a popular show on TV called The Walking Dead. Although I have never seen an actual episode, the commercial made it clear it is all about the aftermath of an apocalypse and zombies.
While the bible does not specifically refer to the unsaved as “zombies” but when we really think about it that is exactly what we were. Those apart from Christ are walking about the earth with no hope, children of wrath, just waiting for the day of eternal judgment.
Today’s sermon comes from Voddie Bauchman, who at the time was Pastoring a church in Houston, TX but now is Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Zambia.
To become a Christian is to be enlisted in a war, one that is fought on three main fronts. In this session, Rev. Voddie Baucham will remind us how the world, the flesh, and the devil work against the kingdom of God. He will explain why battle, struggle, and hardship should not surprise us as Christians.
This message is from our (Ligonier) 2014 National Conference, Overcoming the World: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=...
Jeremiah 9 is a continuation from Chapter 8, a lament of the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem because of the nation of Israel’s rebellious (turning their backs on God) ways.
As bad a Jeremiah feels about this he wants to escape the events, v.2. I think so that he would not be a witness to the final days of complete debauchery/disobedience more so than the destruction.
The people should be wailing and crying out for forgiveness but, their religiosity is superficial. God uses the rite of circumcision, to make His point saying in verses 23-26, we see that righteousness is not a compliance issue, but a heart issue. God says all who are only circumcised in the foreskin, ‘those ones who are wise and skillful boast in their own insight’, but not in the heart will be judged swiftly and righteously.
Many years ago I went forward to an altar call said a little prayer, “got saved”, and all was supposedly all good. EXCEPT like Judah my heart was uncircumcised, I wanted the get out of jail card but not the LORD of my life part.
The question for today is your heart circumcised?
On January 5, 2021, Stand in the Gap Today hosts Joe Greend and Sam Rohrer interviewed Dr. Shelby Steele on the topic of Critical Race Theory. Dr. Steele is an African-American conservative author, columnist documentary filmmaker, and a Robert J. and Marion E. Oster Senior Fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institute. He specializes in the study of race relations, multiculturalism, and affirmative action. Recently, Dr. Steele released a new documentary titled, “What Killed Michael Brown”.
1) What was the purpose for producing the new documentary, “What Killed Michael Brown”?
2) How does white guilt exploitation of black pain leaves black people dependent on American liberalism?
3) What is Critical Race Theory and what are its origins?
This text v.50-58 is certainly about the resurrection. I am focused today on v.55-57 specifically because my wife’s mom, Fela went home to be with the Lord this morning.
Fela loved God and was ever ready to praise the Lord. She had been very ill the past few years and was ready to be, as Paul said, absent from the body and present with the Lord.
Two important lessons here, First, death has no real sting, we can and should morn not her passing but the loss we feel. For secondly, she has won the Victory! No more pain, no more suffering, she is rejoicing with her Lord and Savior tonight in Glory.
So today I ask you to rejoice with me in the vicorious life that was Fela Ortiz Dones and pray for all the family and friends that will miss her infectious smile.
Sometimes I think God can be quite the trickster. I mean that in no disrespectful way as He does everything for our own good, it’s just sometimes I have to laugh at the approach.
Today’s devotional is a prime example. I have had a song by the Judds, called “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days)” running in my head for days and could not figure out why or get it to stop. Then this morning one of my daily reads was from Job 29, and it all made sense.
We all should be familiar with the Book of Job, this rich guy that has it made, and then Satan says to God he is not really faithful. To prove His point God allows Satan to tempt Job and make his life miserable. Stripping Job of all his wealth, family, and comforts.
Here in Chapter 29 specifically in v.1-6 Job talks about those ‘Good old days’ when he had former prosperity when God preserved or watched over him.
Today’s question is what at you longing for that has passed? Is it the same zeal you had when you were first saved? Maybe it is a better prayer life, or a closer relationship with a spouse, family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker.
The solution of course is trusting is God for like Job. Even in the toughest of times, we can have a heart like Job and say with him “Though He slay me, I will trust in Him”? May God grant us that strength always.
Matthew Henrey’s Method for Prayer
It has been but for a season and when there was need, that I have been in heaviness, through manifold temptations; and I beg that all the trials of my faith may be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, I love, in whom, though I now see him not, yet believing, I rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, and am longing to receive the end of my faith, even the salvation of my soul. 1 Peter 1:6-9(KJV)
The morning of December 7, 1941, Rev. Peter Marshall addressed the midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, class of ’42.
At the last minute, he set aside his prepared remarks and preach a prophetic message, “Go Down, Death.”
Within an hour after he finished, news of Imperial Japan’s attack at Pearl Harbor spread across the nation.
Peter Marshall stated:
“I am one of those who believe that there are some principles worth fighting for and worth dying for if need be.”
Yes, I am back at the college grind, so we are back to short versions of my devotional.
While there is no doubt that in this portion of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is speaking on Anxiety, (You can search those in the Search Box in the upper right) but we will not be looking at that today.
Our text v.28a says (KJV) And why take ye thought for raiment? The (AMP) And why are you worried about clothes? The (ESV) text above And why are you Anxious about Clothing? The obvious is the anxious worrisome theme Jesus is addressing. But I read this morning thinking how much effort we put into clothes and other material things and not into Godly things.
The context of these verses is that God has our backs if He can make the flowers bloom clothes the lilies beautifully, how much more so will He take care of the needs of His faithful servants.
So today’s question is where do your priorities lie? In clothes and other material things, or in the treasures of the kingdom of God, Matthew 6:19-21.
As India fights to become a purely Hindu nation, our brothers and sisters in Christ there continue to suffer and die. Your prayers are needed as they continue to stand for Jesus in the land of countless false idols and gods.
Family Blessed By Christmas Care Pack
Authorities Try to Force Church from Home
On the Run as Converts to Christianity
Permission to Follow Christ Denied
The following stories and more can regularly be found updated at: barnabusfund.org/news
At least 13 people killed in suicide bomb attack in Cameroon
Pakistani Christian girl raped by Muslim robbers selflessly saves younger sister from assault
Pressure increases on Indian Christian community as prayer meetings come under police scrutiny
A daily prayer request from Barnabas Prayer is available from the “View Daily Prayer” link below. The prayer is also available on Facebook, Twitter, and as an insert in our free bi-monthly Barnabas Aid magazine.
Today: Wednesday 13 January 2021
An evangelical missionary from Switzerland was murdered in Mali by Islamic militants in September 2020. Beatrice Stöckli (59) had been kidnapped and held captive for over four years by a group called Jammat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM). Three other European hostages and a Malian politician were released by JNIM about a month later, reportedly in exchange for over 100 jihadists who had been captured by the Malian authorities. Beatrice had had an earlier experience of kidnapping in 2012 when she was held for nine days and tortured. On her release, the terrorists warned her not to come back to Mali. Despite this, she decided that she would return to her ministry in Timbuktu. Pray that her many years of work in Mali will bear much fruit in this country where Christians are about 2% of the population.
