I Can't Wait Until...

Proverbs 16:3; Isaiah 41:10; Philippians 3:13-14; 1 Timothy 6:12

Several months back my wife and I went on a day trip to the mountains; Boone in particular. I always look forward to those little day trips to just be able to get away and enjoy being together for a little bit. As we started out I asked her if she wanted to get some breakfast locally or wanted to get on the road and eat somewhere along the way. She commented something to the effect "you can go on, I know how you like to get on the move."

I realized that is what I usually do. I am one of the worst when it comes to wanting to get to the destination as fast as I can. However, on this day, I said "let's just get something here. I'm not worried about what time we get there, as long as we are together."

Is it all just about the destination, or is the journey important? When I look back at vacations and day trips, I have to admit, for me, it was usually about getting to the destination as fast as I could. I would try to get there with as few stops and as quickly as possible. I wonder how much enjoyment I missed out on just being with my family by focusing all my efforts on "getting there."

Too often, our journey through life can be lost in our worry about what tomorrow will bring. We can't enjoy today for worrying about what the future holds. Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 "do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself." He had just instructed us not to worry about where our next meal would come from or if we would have enough clothing, but to "seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (verse 33).

God wants and expects us to trust Him to meet our needs. He doesn't want us to worry about our lives but longs for us to enjoy a relationship with Him. In fact, He gave His life to make that possible. Just trust Him today and enjoy His presence. He'll take care of the rest.

Matthew 6:31–34 (NASB)“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Pastor Mike Deese

Cross Walk

Isaiah 8:14; Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42-44; Luke 2:34; Acts 4:11; Romans 9:32-33; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 1 Peter 2:4-8

This past Friday, Good Friday, our church participated in a Cross Walk in remembrance of what Jesus did for us nearly 2,000 years ago. About 80 Christians from several denominations walked through Forest City, from First Baptist to the First United Methodist Church, taking turns, three at a time, carrying a 12 foot cross. It was my 2nd year of walking. It is a very humbling and emotional experience. 

What Christ did for us on that cross, and what happened on the third day thereafter, is what separates Christianity from every other religion in the world. Many can accept that Christ was a real man; a good prophet, good leader, and a great example for us to live by, but He was so much more than that. We needed more than a great example. What we needed was a savior. And that is exactly what He did, He came to save us from our sins. He paid the price that you and I could never pay for ourselves. He was the perfect lamb that was slain for you and me, so that we could be reconciled to God, restoring the relationship that we had broken through our sin.

We read many New Testament scriptures, referring back to the Old Testament, depicting Christ as a stumbling block to those that can't accept who He is and what He has done. Paul puts it a different way in 1 Corinthians 1:18 saying For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. Is this all just a story to you or do you accept God's Word as truth? Do you believe? Your life depends on it... literally.

1 Peter 2:7–8 (NASB) This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

Pastor Mike Deese

The Invitation

Psalm 62:1; 2 Timothy 1:9-10; Titus 2:11-12; 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 4:12

Jesus tells an interesting parable in Matthew 22 as an example of the kingdom of heaven, about a king that holds a wedding feast for his son. The king sends servants to call on those who had been invited, but the guests refuse to come. He sends them out again with a mouth watering invite, announcing all of the wonderful preparations that have been made; a celebration you do not want to miss! Yet, they still refuse to come. Some were just too busy to bother coming, while others mistreated and killed the servants. The king is enraged and sends out his army to destroy the murderers, and their city. The king sends out more servants, this time to the highways, and tells them to invite all who will come. The hall was filled with guests.

There is so much truth here in this little parable. God's desire would be that all would come to accept salvation through His wonderful grace. He provided for your salvation through the death of His Son on a cruel cross. Sin brought death into the world, and the only one worthy enough to pay the price for your sin and my sin was God Himself. He had to send His Son Jesus Christ, to lay down His life so that you and I could have a relationship with Him once again. That truly is His amazing grace. 

But this story doesn't end here. Jesus goes on to say that the king comes in to look over the guests and notices one that is not dressed in wedding attire. He asks for an explanation and the man was speechless. He was bound hand and foot and thrown out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ (v. 13)

At first glance, this may seem cruel. How could the king be so brutal? But if we look at the context during the time that this was written, those that were invited to the wedding were given wedding clothes to wear. The king would have made sure that everyone had the opportunity to be dressed properly for the occasion. This man had just decided that he didn't want to play by the king's rules. He wanted in without wearing the proper attire. Of course, the analogy would be that our King provides us with a garment of salvation. We are all invited to come to the wedding feast. We are provided the gift of salvation (clothed in righteousness) through His Son. But we have to first accept the invitation, and then trust in His Son Jesus Christ as our savior, trading our filthy unrighteousness for His perfect righteousness. Have you made the decision to come? Have you trusted Jesus Christ for your salvation? The invitation is currently open but will be ending one day soon. Don't wait another day. Today is the day of salvation!

Revelation 19:7–9 (NASB)“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”

Pastor Mike Deese

In The Word

Deuteronomy 11:18; Psalm 40:8; Psalm 119:9-11; Proverbs 4:20-21; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 2:2-3

I was reminded this morning of a lesson from a book titled Living By The Book by Howard Hendricks. This book was my first study at Fruitland Baptist Bible College and was truly one of my favorites. In turn, I have taught at least 3 discipleship courses at our local church using that book. 

The lesson I was reminded of this morning was on why we need to study the Bible in the first place. Dr. Hendricks makes a great point recalling a story about a man he ran across at a Bible teaching conference that had driven his family 1,200 miles across the country to be at that conference. Hendricks asked him why he came so far and the man's answer; "because I wanted to get under the Word of God."

As Hendricks points out, that sounds pretty good on the surface, but when it gets down to it we need to be not only "under" the Word of God, hearing great teaching and preaching from those that God has called to do such, but "in it" for ourselves. Again as Hendricks puts it, sitting under great teaching "ought to be a stimulus - not a substitute - for getting into it for ourselves." 

There are plenty of scriptures, Old Testament and New, that teach us to study and remember the Word of the Lord. Deuteronomy 6 is one that comes to mind. Verses 6–9 say “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Sounds to me like God is pretty serious about us keeping His Word in our hearts and on our minds.

Our gracious and merciful heavenly father has provided for us His very Word. He longs for us to learn from it through those He has called to teach and preach. But more than that, He longs for us to dig into it for ourselves, asking Him to reveal to us what He would have us learn. Will you make plans to study His Word each and every day? He will guide you if you ask Him.

Joshua 1:8 (NASB) “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

The Best Bible You Will Ever Own!

Joshua 1:8; Nehemiah 8:3; Psalm 119:11; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 4:12

About a month ago I got a new phone. It wasn't just an upgrade from the phone I had been using for years, not even the same platform I have used for probably the last 15 years. No, I couldn't just make a simple upgrade; I traded my iPhone in for an Android. And while I am having a few separation anxieties, for the most part I am happy. 

My break up with Apple wasn't an angry separation. For me it was about the cost of the new phone. The LG I bought was on sale for 50% off. There are a few other reasons that I won't go into here, but if the latest iPhones had been 50% off, I would probably own a new iPhone right now. It was that simple.

One of the things I have noticed about my LG is that the GPS synchronization is apparently not the same as my iPhone 6 was. When I run my normal 3 miles, it is about 2/10 of a mile different overall. It could be that my iPhone's GPS was inaccurate, but from what I see online, it is probably my LG. Since I don't really know for sure which one to trust, I could just give up and quit running. (Sounds like a really lame excuse, doesn't it?) One thing I know for sure; whether I was running 3 miles or 2.8 miles three days a week last year, my main goal was achieved. I set out to lose weight and lower my blood pressure, and with the Lord's help was able to do both. My point is, it doesn't matter which phone I was using or exactly how far I was going, I got the results I needed.

When it comes to Bible study, some folks get caught up in what version is best to study from. There are those that say the KJV is the only way to go and another camp that says some of the newer versions are actually more accurate, since they are translated from more numerous and older manuscripts (those closer to the time the originals were actually written). My purpose in this post is not to argue either point. I would encourage you to use whichever one that you can read and understand. My only suggestion would be that you have a couple (or even a few) different versions to read as you study. It's not that difficult in this day and age to get multiple versions online for your phone, tablet, or computer.

Just like my issue with the varying GPS readings from different phones, don't let various versions of the Bible keep you from studying it. Regardless of your choice of version, you can achieve your main goal; to have a deeper relationship with the One that gave it to you. Let Him guide you as you read. Pray that He will help you understand. He longs for you to know more about Him. Get a copy of the Bible that you will read. That will be the best Bible you will ever own!

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (NASB) All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

Pastor Mike Deese

Pain, Pain, Go Away

Psalm 34:19 Romans 5:3-5; 1 Peter 5:10; James 1:2-4; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 

Paul opens his second letter to the Corinthians with his usual greeting and then begins a discussion on comfort through affliction. Pain is something we certainly don't like to deal with. There's no simple way around it, suffering is not fun. But in these first few verses of this letter, Paul lists several helpful results from our afflictions and the comfort we receive in them.

First, through the comfort we receive from the Lord,  we are able to comfort others in their suffering. We are to share in one another's burdens and walk through difficulties with each other. We are to encourage each other in God's mercies and compassion. God is able to sustain us through all kinds of difficulties. He is our strength. We need to remind one another of His goodness and His comfort.

Secondly, our afflictions direct us towards patience. Verse 6 says if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. Suffering will cause us to patiently endure. We can endure because we know the hope that is in Christ Jesus. 

Thirdly, our sufferings direct us toward a deeper trust in God. Through our pain, we cry out to the Father. When things are too unbearable for us to handle, we have nowhere to turn but God. Only He can provide the comfort that we truly need in our deepest sorrow and pain. Without hope in Christ man is truly lost and pitiful.

Lastly, through our pain and suffering, we are encouraged to unite in prayer. We are one body, the body of Christ. We are to pray one for another, lifting our petitions before God in unity, trusting that as I pray for you, you will pray for me. Prayer, and the great need for it as we journey through our difficulties, brings us together. And as Paul says in verse 11, it is all for God's glory, so that many will give thanks to Him. 

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Pastor Mike Deese

You Remind Me of Someone

1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Peter 2:21; Ephesians 5:1-2; John 13:13-17; Romans 12:2

Have you ever noticed how people often act or sound different based upon who they are speaking with or have been hanging around? Not only have I noticed it in others, I am certain that I have done it myself. We often tend to take on the characteristics of those we are talking to, dealing with, or who we've been hanging around. 

In Acts 4,  Peter and John are getting into trouble with the Jewish leaders for teaching the people and proclaiming through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (v. 2) They had also, through the power of Christ, just healed a lame beggar, which stirred up the crowd even more to believe in Jesus.  They are thrown in jail and the next day brought before the leaders to testify; and testify they did!

What I find so interesting here is what the priests and elders noticed about Peter and John. Verse 13 says Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. (NASB) Now that's an association like no other! What an honor to be recognized in such a way. And notice how, through the Holy Spirit, the unlearned are educating the highly educated! Their education came not from man but from God. Their learning came by hanging out with the very one they were learning about.

You don't need a college education to tell people about Jesus. Just let him transform your life and then tell them about your transformation. Tell them what He has done in and through you. Tell them how you once were lost, but through His mercy and grace, were saved. Spend time in His presence and then don't be surprised when others recognize that you have been with Jesus!

1 John 2:6 (NASB) the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

Pastor Mike Deese