Our Time of Need
April 8, 2016
Scripture
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
~Hebrews 4:16, NIV
Quote
No trial is too great, no temptation is too strong, but that Jesus Christ can give us the mercy and grace we need, when we need it.
~Warren W. Wiersbe
Moses did not lead the Israelites into the Promise Land [rest], matter of fact, Moses did not enter himself. Joshua lead Israel into their physical rest [Promise Land] but not into the ultimate spiritual rest. Aaron, the first high priest and all his descendants were unable to lead Israel into this “Spiritual Rest.” Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the ‘Rest’ referred to in Deuteronomy 12:9,10, Joshua 1:13 and Psalms 95:11. The Promise Land was only a shadow of the reality that would come in Jesus.
Aaron and his sons offered thousands of sacrifices but the blood of bulls and goats could not take away our sins. These sacrifices reminded us of our sin but they did not remove our guilt–they simply foreshadowed better things to come. Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said:
“You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given Me a body to offer. You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin.”
Then Jesus said:
“Look, I have come to do Your will, O God—as is written about Me in the Scriptures.”
In light of what Christ has done in our behalf– Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. {Hebrews 4:16, NLT}
Four things we need:
- Confidence: {parrēsia} freedom to speak openly, frankly, without fear or concealment.
- Mercy: {eleos} kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them.
- Grace: {charis} that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, and loveliness. God’s undeserved loving kindness and favor.
- Help: {boētheia} under-girding. Used twice in NT. Here an Acts 27:17. Refers to the cables or ropes that sailors used to bind or under-gird the hull of the ship to keep it from breaking up.
Jesus, as our Faithful and Sympathetic High Priest can give us all four things.
- Day two of Phase-One went well and God has answered a prayer concerning Phase-Two. With Hope in mind, use the four points above to pray specifically for her.
- We got some bad news from Athens yesterday: my sister Joy’s former son-in-law was killed in a 4-wheeler accident. He was around the age of 45 and had two sons which, of course, are my sister’s grand sons.
- I have a wedding Saturday and for the first time in my life, I am excited in a positive way about a wedding. They called yesterday telling me it was an Alabama wedding and to wear jeans and an Alabama shirt. Instead of pronouncing them man and wife, I am to say ROLL TIDE. Just kidding on that last part.
- Sunday Schedule: Deacon’s meeting @ 8:15, LCBS @ 9:15, Worship @ 10:15, Business Meeting @ 11:00, AWANA @ 5:30, Visitation @ 5:30 and worship @ 6:15.
- Franklin Graham Prayer Rally this coming Thursday, April 14. I think Joe David said we could leave the church at 9:30 am.
Loneliness
April 3, 2014
SCRIPTURE
Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
~I Peter 5:9, NLT
QUOTE
God’s remedy for loneliness is intimacy – meaningful, open, sharing relationships with one another. In Christ we have the capacity for fulfilling this sense of belonging which comes from an intimate relationship. When all other relationships fail, our relationship with Him will not unless we neglect it ourselves.
~Yaakov [Adapted from Neil Anderson]
I use the internet for getting and dispersing information. I have never had an on-line relationship; not to my knowledge. I don’t do chat rooms. I understand from my reading that on-line relationships are common and lonely people are especially vulnerable. The experts tell us that these virtual relationships drive people to a deeper depression and loneliness. The interesting thing to me is the motivation: why would a person use the social media to establish a relationship with someone who is total stranger?
The answer is we are driven by a sense of WONDER! We wonder if anyone really knows us or has a desire to know us. We wonder if anyone understands how we feel and the greatest wonder of all, does anyone really care? The solution to your loneliness is not a virtual relationship but a vertical relationship. Jesus knows you better than you know yourself. He knows the number of hairs on your head. He not only knows intricate details about you, He understands everything you are going through and sympathizes with your human condition. As far as someone caring, watch the Passion Of Christ. He cares, the cross is proof of His love.
- I don’t normally address the same subject as OUR DAILY BREAD but yesterdays devotion got me to thinking and I could not help myself. I have a true story that fits the theme but it would take to long so I will post it on MY STORIES someday, LORD willing.
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GOLDEN GIRLS meet Saturday at 9:00 at Cracker Barrel.
- Sunday schedule is normal beginning with Deacon’s meeting at 8:00.
- Baseball season is on: I have more places to be Saturday than I can be. Ty and Josie have games at West Park and I sure that Big L has a game somewhere. I got to study some on Monday and Tuesday, PTL.
Bailey Bunch at Jose’ in Pigeon Forge
Who Cares?
July 27, 2013
Prayer For REVIVAL in America
SCRIPTURE
A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
Luke 10:30, NLT
QUOTE
In what ever area you have suffered most, that will be the area where you excel in understanding and sympathy.
~Yaakov
COMMENTARY
Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan to illustrate how we should show love to those in need. A Jewish man was traveling down the Jericho road when bandits attack him, stripped him, beat him and left him laying naked in ditch. The bible says they beat him half to death so I am assuming he was semi-conscience but totally unable to help himself. He could have had a severe concussion or weakness and trauma from the lose to blood. I like to think that he could see but couldn’t move. When he saw the preacher coming, I imagine he thought…”Thank you God, a man of the cloth, he will surely help me,” but the preacher passed by on the other side. Then he saw a Temple worker, a Levite coming and he probably got his hopes up a second time but the Levite just looked at him and them kept going. Now this man is laying naked and helpless in his own blood and no one seems to care.
Not many of us have been beaten and robbed by bandits but we do know what it is like to get beat down. Grief can do it, failure can do it, disappointment can do it, bad news can do it and unpleasant circumstance can certainly do it. Sooner or later everyone will suffer a heart-break. It happens to some when they are very young, they fall in love with someone who does not love them back. It is hard to get through life without at least one broken heart.
Hey, I know the bandits did not break the man’s heart, they broke bones but the Priest and the Levite broke his heart. What hurt him most, the clubs of the bandits or the indifference of two people who were suppose to care. When you are hurting, it is a comfort to know that someone cares.
Max Brunson is the pastor of 1st Baptist Jacksonville, Florida and he tells the story of he and his wife going through the Atlanta Airport. His wife wanted a water and so he went to shop and got a water, put it on the counter and ask the clerk how she was doing. She started to say something and then she caught herself. He said, “You were about to say something, what was it?” She said, “I was and then I realized, you were just being nice, nobody really cares.” He said, “Lady, there is always One person who cares.”
Who was Max referring to DBC? You got it, JESUS! He always cares!
EXTRA
- Ladies go back and read the blog…this one was written for the ladies…one in particular, actually two.
- Pancake Breakfast this morning at High School Cafeteria [Football booster club]
- Brunch for Josh Hensley and Caroline Looney is this morning.
- BLOCK PARTY two weeks from today.
- Pray for My HOPE with Billy Graham.
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