Faith Matters
Daily Devotions: The Consequences of Sin
August 07th 2013 by Beth Farrah
Submitted by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Genesis 3:14-19 NKJV
(14) So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.
(15) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(16) To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you."
(17) Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.
(18) Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field.
(19) In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."
Christians tend to categorize sins, rating some as small and inconsequential, but others as huge and far-reaching in the damage they cause. In reality, no one sins in isolation. Each disobedience to God affects not only the sinner but also countless others in both the present and the future.
If we were to separate Adam and Eve's sin from its context, few of us would convict them of great transgression. All they did was swallow some fruit from a tree with a "do not eat" sign. Today people think nothing of ignoring commands—even biblical ones.
But God has a totally different view of our sins. Each one is followed by negative consequences. Adam and Eve's disobedience led to pain and frustration in two basic areas of fulfillment—relationships and meaningful work. The whole earth fell under sin's curse, and every person born since then has entered the world with a sin nature that alienates each one from the Lord.
That first rebellion plunged humanity into a terrible condition. Civilization is now plagued by countless ramifications of the innumerable sins committed by human beings throughout the ages. Is it any wonder the world is in such sad shape? Sin not only causes suffering; it robs us of God's best. The Garden of Eden is closed and locked to sinful mankind.
The good news of Christ's grace and forgiveness is our only real hope in this fallen world. Though unpleasant, focusing on sin's consequences is necessary at times to remind us of the greatness of our salvation and to move us to obey God, even in the small things. Each obedience is huge to Him.
Last Updated on August 07th 2013 by Beth Farrah
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/upfs/Daily-Devotions-The-Consequences-of-Sin
Daily Devotions: Can You Trust Your Conscience?
August 05th 2013 by Beth Farrah
Submitted by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
1 Timothy 1:5-7 NKJV
(5) Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith,
(6) from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk,
(7) desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.
Let your conscience be your guide!
This bit of folk wisdom seems to make sense since our conscience is designed to help us discern right from wrong. However, people cannot always trust their internal radar to steer them correctly; this is the case particularly with unbelievers, who don’t have the Holy Spirit to reveal truth and offer guidance for wise decisions. And while Christians do have God’s indwelling Spirit, they should be careful not to harbor sin in their lives, as that can interfere with the way their morality sensor functions.
A trustworthy conscience is programmed with scriptural teaching. Believers build a stable and sensitive spiritual radar system by applying God’s truth to their lives. They are committed to thinking and acting in ways that honor and please the Lord. Then, when sinful thoughts or choices come across that radar, it will deliver a sharp warning.
A person with a reliable conscience will have a strong desire to obey God. He won’t settle for what feels right or looks good, but instead prayerfully seeks the Lord’s will. In other words, he does not rely solely on his conscience but incorporates all of the Holy Spirit’s tools into his daily life: Scripture, prayer, etc. Moreover, when his spiritual radar sounds the alarm, he is quick to draw back and reject unwise choices.
A conscience isn’t designed to be our guide; it is a tool of the Guide. The Holy Spirit not only convicts us of sin, but He also brings to mind godly principles and leads us on a righteous path. He uses a variety of tools to conform us to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:29).
Romans 8:28-31 NKJV
(28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
(29) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
(30) Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
(31) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Last Updated on August 05th 2013 by Beth Farrah
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/upfe/Daily-Devotions-Can-You-Trust-Your-Conscience
Daily Devotions: The Bible - God's Worship Guide
August 03rd 2013 by Beth Farrah
Submitted by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. -Colossians 3:16 NASB, emphasis added.
Could I challenge you? For a wonderful worship experience in Revelation, search for all the names and titles of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Over the next few weeks, begin your search by looking, chapter by chapter, for the names and titles of Christ in Revelation. Use markers, colored pencils, or pens to mark each one in a special way that will help you remember where you found them. As you mark each one, ask yourself the "So what?" question:
So what does Jesus as the __________ (fill in a name or title) mean in my life for today?
Learn to practice noticing God's presence during each day. Worship ought to become a daily habit: Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Punctuate every moment with inward whisperings of adoration, praise, and thanksgiving: Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice (Psalms 55:17).
To heighten your preparation for public worship, be sure to have personal times of inner worship, confession, Bible study, and attentiveness to Christ, your present teacher: This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it that you may do all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and have good success (Joshua 1:8).
Learn to worship God in many different settings of worship. Worship God when you are alone. Have home groups not only for Bible study but also for the very experience of worship itself. Gather in little groups of two and three to learn to offer up a sacrifice of praise. Many blessings can occur in smaller gatherings that, just by sheer size, cannot happen in the larger experience. These little experiences of worship will empower and impact your larger Sunday gatherings as well.
Determine to prepare for the gathering of the church for worship. On Saturday night, prepare by having an inward examination and confession prior to going to bed early. On Sunday morning, before the actual worship service, pray that God will fill the sanctuary with His presence.
You can have one of the most vital ministries at your church by arriving ten to fifteen minutes early and sitting, with your Bible open in prayer and meditation, in the worship center.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will empower those who will minister during the service: the instrumentalists, the praise team, the soloists, the worship leaders, and the One who ministers the Word. Let go of all inner distractions so that you can really participate in the worship service.
If you do these things faithfully, you will be well on the way to growing in your ability to worship
Last Updated on August 03rd 2013 by Beth Farrah
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/upeu/Daily-Devotions-The-Bible--Gods-Worship-Guide
Daily Devotions: Rootless Religion
August 02nd 2013 by Beth Farrah
Submitted by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
These things you have done and I kept silence; you thought that I was just like you. PSALM 50:21
I read of a Christian leader who was boarding a small commuter plane for a short flight out of Nashville. Moments after he settled in, a flight attendant's voice came on the loudspeaker and said, "When the pilot steps onto the plane, I want you to clap for him. He just found out his fiancée is expecting twins." When the captain appeared, the passengers erupted into a raucous ovation. He said that he sat there thinking, I can't believe it. We're applauding immorality.
This is in a country where reliable research tells us that nearly 85 percent profess to have some kind of religious convictions, and 90 percent believe there is a God. But it's also a country where a solid majority personalizes religion with little regard for the need to submit themselves to any kind of accountability or authority. In essence, everyone does what is right in their eyes (see Judges 17:6).
We've become a nation made up of very small humans playing a big, big God. As a result, many people treat religion more like a hobby. It's a free-flowing, do-as-you-please, spiritual smorgasbord where they pick and choose what they want, when they want it. A little dab of truth here, a little dab there, but never too much truth, as someone has said, "God created man in His own image; then man returned the favor."
It is time for us as Christians to clean up our own house and heart, to let the Bible's truth become not just our standard for belief but also our standard of behavior, both personally and in our homes and families. Then we must take it a step further, calling those around us to the good news of Jesus Christ and exhorting those who know Him to internalize, apply and proclaim His life-giving message of hope, truth, and light.
The future of your family and our nation depends on it.
Try to define a practical step you could take to influence your sphere for Christ. What is one need you could embrace as your spiritual calling? What is another aspect of your life that needs to be "cleaned up"?
Humble yourselves before the face of God, and ask Him for the spiritual reformation of your family and our country during your time of prayer.
Last Updated on August 02nd 2013 by Beth Farrah
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/upel/Daily-Devotions-Rootless-Religion
A Mission Trip to Romania, Sharing The Gospel
July 22nd 2013 by Dee Loflin
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri - Several local members of the First Baptist Church in Dexter traveled far, far away! It took them more than 33 hours to arrive at their destination. Their mission trip overseas took them to Calacea, Romania where they worked with Pastor Toni Mic and his congregation.
Pictured are Bessie McRoy, Julie Twomey, Katelynn Frazier, Greg McGhee, Katie Reiker, Tania Reiker, and Jim Reiker. Also Toni Mic, pastor and Soia along with a few staff members of the Mayor and their interpreter.
“It was a long trip, but well worth getting to work with the children, youth, and the elderly.” stated Jim Reiker. “The people of Calacea were so kind and generous and we fell in love with them.”
The mission group left on June 25th and returned to the U.S. on July 4th, Independence Day. When asked if they will go again, “We do look forward to going back. Wonderful people over there.”
They already miss their Romanian friends. They met a couple that had been married for 70 years and a lady named, Ana, who they each said was the best cook they ever met. One home even had four generations living under one roof.
Their trip was extremely rewarding. They were helped with the youth group, made care packages and saw people in the clinic. Their purpose was to allow other people to experience Jesus and share the Gospel. A special thank you to the Mayor of Calacea, what a wonderful contact they had while they were traveling.
For more great photos of the people of Romania and the mission trip, view them on the First Baptist Church's Facebook Page by clicking here.
Last Updated on July 22nd 2013 by Dee Loflin
https://showmetimes.com/Blogpost/upc0/A-Mission-Trip-to-Romania-Sharing-The-Gospel
