Fasting And Prayer As Your Spiritual Worship By Ronnie W. Floyd

Fasting And Prayer As Your Spiritual Worship

By Ronnie W. Floyd

The disciplines of prayer and fasting are not reduced to a formula or a hoop that we are to jump through as if we are a kind of spiritual circus. Nor are they physical tests or exercises in mental discipline. True prayer and fasting are attitudes of the heart and cries of the soul. God's Word has a strong rebuke for those who fast for the wrong reasons or in an improper manner. I have never seen God respond favorably to prayer and/or fasting based on false pretenses or impure motives.

Improper Reasons/Motives

Prayer and fasting are improper when a person seeks:

 • To fulfill selfish desires and ambitions.

• To attempt to manipulate God.

• To elevate one's status or personal agenda.

• To promote false piety, legalism, or religious duty.

Improper Manner

Prayer and fasting are improper when they:

  • Draw attention to personal glorification.

• Are attempted without sufficient seriousness and respect.

• Are conducted while intentionally continuing to sin.

• Are conducted while continuing to pursue selfish desires in pleasure and business.

• Are conducted while promoting or continuing injustice, oppression, or impropriety.

• Are conducted without drawing aside daily and dedicating ample time for sincere seeking,

quiet communion, and devoted prayer with God.

God-Honoring Fast

The Bible is filled with references to the prayers and fasting of His people. In Matthew 6, Jesus placed fasting on the same level as praying and giving. He said, "When you fast, when you pray, and when you give." I wonder why Christians today and churches in our generation don't place fasting on the same level as praying and giving?

Jesus, by His example and His teaching, demonstrates that prayer and fasting are important and integral ingredients in the lives of His followers. One purpose of prayer and fasting is to bring our hearts to a place of being filled with a sacrificial love that results in godly attitudes in our lives. True fasting will draw us closer to God and His purposes.

I can't explain why God has chosen prayer and fasting as the gateway to supernatural power. One thing I do know: scripture, prayer, and fasting are the ways believers humble themselves in the sight of the Lord. When we humble ourselves, He promises to exalt and lift us up at the appointed time (I Peter 5:6; James 4:10). God also indicates that He will give grace to the humble (James 4:6). Again, 

II Chronicles 7:14 indicates the importance of humbling ourselves before God.

Fasting brings a sharp focus to the dramatic difference between our physical and spiritual natures. Eating is one of the most fundamental things we do as physical beings. One of the most natural desires is for food. Without proper nourishment we die. By exercising our wills and depriving ourselves of food for spiritual purposes, we acknowledge our spiritual natures and honor our Creator-Father. When we deny the natural for the purpose of calling upon God to do the supernatural, He will enable and empower us to experience the supernatural.

Through fasting, we confirm the words uttered by Jesus in the face of temptation during His forty-day fast, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Through prayer and fasting we forsake our own physical needs and the creature comforts of this world and call upon God as the Originator, Giver, Source, and Sustainer of all life, especially our own. We exalt Him as our hope and salvation. True spiritual fasting will result in submission and devotion to God.

God Blesses When Our Fasts...

 • Focus on Him and honor Him. (Although you will receive spiritual blessings, these are not proper motives for fasting.)

• Have spiritual purposes. (Although you may realize certain physical benefits, these are not proper motives for spiritual fasting, e.g. for weight-loss purposes.)

• Cause individuals to humble themselves and submit to the authority of God and His Word.

• Cause individuals to acknowledge and repent of sin.

• Deprive our natural desires and lusts to focus on the spiritual.

 A Practical Guide

Even when we honor God by praying and fasting, this does not mean that our heavenly Father will grant everything on our wish-and-whim list. God will only work and bless in ways that are consistent and in harmony with His will and purpose. One of the primary functions of prayer and fasting is to help us discover what His ordained purposes and will are for our lives.

I have included some practical helps and hints that are rooted in my own experience-guidelines that I follow as I fast and pray.

Spiritual Suggestions

No. 1 - If God does not call you to fast, don't fast! Most people don't have a call to fast possibly because they're not totally open to God's leadership, have not been taught the biblical foundation for fasting, or are caught up in other types of sin that interfere.

No. 2 - Determine in advance the length of the fast God is calling you to undertake.

No. 3 - If God calls you to a fast, He has specific reasons and purposes in mind. Before you fast, determine the purposes of your fast and write them down, e.g., "Lord, I am fasting for the spiritual purposes of:

   • Spiritual revival and awakening in the church of America.

• Spiritual revival and awakening in my own local church.

• Spiritual revival and awakening in my own personal life."

 Under each of these major headings there could be several subpoints about what you are trusting God for in each of these areas.

 No. 4 - Identify, confess, and repent of all revealed sin before and during your fast. Continue to ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any concealed area where you feel separated from God. Unconfessed sin and disobedience will hinder your prayer and fasting.

No. 5 - Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's prompting in all areas of your life, since God will often require you to seek reconciliation or restoration in broken relationships.

No. 6 - Pray fervently and continually.

No. 7 - Absorb large quantities of scripture into your life through hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on God's Word. Ask God to reveal what He wants you to read and study in His Word.

No. 8 - Always reserve time to be still and quiet before the Lord.

No. 9 - Keep a journal of your purposes for the fast. This should contain specific prayer requests, written prayer, devotional thoughts, and spiritual insights you are gaining during your fast. For example, I hand write many of my prayers to God. I also document whatever I feel God is teaching me, even though they may seem insignificant at the time. I include the specific day and time in the journal entry. These daily writings have been a consistent source of encouragement, strength, and insight long after the fast has ended, reminding me, often months later, of God's direction and calling for my life.

No. 10 - Skipping meals alone will not result in a meaningful fast! You must set aside time to pray and seek spiritual insights. Dedicate at least as much time as you would normally spend in food preparation and eating for prayer and the study of God's word.

No. 11 - Consider praying audibly in a kneeling position. At times, try getting on your face before God. This may help foster an attitude of humility in prayer and keep you focused on your purposes.

No. 12 - Praise God verbally and in song for who He is and what He has done: Worship Him.

No. 13 - Use scriptural prayers during some of your prayer time.

No. 14 - Ask God with whom, when and how you may want to share your fasting experience when it has come to an end. If God so allows it, your testimony can challenge, inspire, and help increase the faith of others. Always give God the glory for what He has done in your life.

Physical Suggestions

No. 1 - As a precautionary measure, check with your doctor before beginning your first fast.

No. 2 - Eat mainly raw foods and drink plenty of water for a few meals before you begin your fast.

No. 3 - Decrease the size and frequency of meals before beginning your fast, especially a prolonged fast.

No. 4 - Determine in advance what kind of fast you will undertake, e.g., total abstinence, water only, water and juice, etc. I recommend water-and-juice fasts. They help you accomplish the spiritual and physical purposes of the fast, while at the same time, they help you to maintain your energy level and your health.

No. 5 - Avoid chewing gum during the fast. Chewing activates the digestive processes. 

No. 6 - Days two through four of the fast are often the most challenging.

No. 7 - When drinking juice on a fast, unsweetened and non-acidic juices seem best. Tomato and orange juices are hard on the stomach, unless greatly diluted.

No. 8 - Most of my juice was prepared at home. Since I knew I would be entering a prolonged fast, one of the purchases I made was a professional juicer.

No. 9 - If you (a) undertake a water-only fast, (b) plan an extended fast, (c) have a medical condition, or (d) are taking medication, you should consult a medical doctor familiar with fasting before you begin your fast.

No. 10 - Consult other resources on fasting.

No. 11 - You may need to restrict some of your physical activity during the fast, especially rigorous exercise.

No. 12 - Sudden movements, especially standing up quickly, may cause temporary dizziness or light-headedness.

No. 13 - Expect some physical, mental and perhaps, even some emotional discomfort. Headaches, sleeplessness, and irritability often accompany a fast, but don't allow the fast to become an excuse for improper actions and attitudes.

No. 14 - You will likely experience some weight loss during a fast, but the weight usually returns quickly once the fast is broken.

No. 15 - It's important always to consider the feelings of others, particularly family members, when planning a fast. For example, to plan a fast during a holiday or a family reunion could unnecessarily offend others or draw attention to yourself. Ask God for the right time to conduct your fast.

No. 16 - Some people, even those with good intentions, may try to keep you from fasting; others may encourage you to end your fast before the appointed time. You should anticipate this and be prepared with a kind, yet resolved, response.

No. 17 - End the fast, especially an extended one, gradually. After my prolonged fasts, I eat only soft foods for at least a couple of days (baked potato, soup, yogurt, etc.). I begin with small portions and gradually increase my intake. I then move to other foods that are more easily digested. I often wait five or more days before returning to a full meal. Returning to normal eating patterns too quickly after a fast can cause serious medical problems, and may also minimize some of the physical benefits of the fast.

From The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Ronnie W. Floyd. Pages 197-204. Broadman & Holman Publishers. Copyright © 1997.

Scriptural Fasting Information:

 Esther 4:16 A three (3) day fast for crisis.

Daniel 10:2-3 A twenty-one (21) day partial fast where he ate no pleasant food

(no meat, sweets, etc.). This fast is for revelation.

 Psalms 35:14 Ezra 8:23

II Kings 21

I Samuel 30 Luke 4

One-day fast for self-examination; examine your heart. One-day fast for deliverance.

A fast lifted judgment off of Ahab. No day specified. Three day fast for healing.

Forty (40) day fast for dominion (God must lead you into this fast).

As with any fast, you must check with your doctor, especially if you have a current medical condition.

This Lord's Day (December 31, 2023) at Rainsville First Baptist Church

Tomorrow is a unique day for it is the 53th Sunday of the year.  That's right...an extra Sunday to worship in  2023 and the last opportunity to gather for corporate worship in 2023.  It will be a different day, as well, with these features:

Hear Bob Langmaack's testimony and then celebrate his baptism in our Worship Service at 10:15

* We will commit ourselves afresh through the reminder of our Lord's commitment as we celebrate the Lord's Supper
* We will sing, pray, give, and fellowship.
* 8:45-9:10 - Churchwide Breakfast served in the Large Fellowship Hall
* All adults and youth will stay in the LFH for Sunday School and the Pastor will share vision for 2024
* Children will go with Whitney during SS

Also, tomorrow, as approved by the church and recommended by the Elders, we are using “the extra Sunday” of December 31, 2023, as a Sunday where all undesignated tithes and offerings will go to Mission Causes.

 

• This offering will close the gap of the mission expenditures lacking for 2023 and set us on good, solid ground for 2024.
• No online giving will go toward this unless the online giver designates their offering that week to Mission Causes. 
• Anyone wishing to use an envelope to designate their offering will have to write in Mission Causes.  Otherwise, on that Sunday alone all gifts listed as tithes and general fund or are undesignated toward anything (cash) will go to Mission Causes.

8 Ways to Break the Bondage of Worry by Dr. Chuck Lawless

 I admit it – I can be a worrier. That’s a problem, given Paul’s words in Philippians 4:6 – “Don’t worry about anything . . . .” I’m learning to overcome it, though, so maybe these suggestions will help you:

1. Commit your life to Christ. If you are not a Christian, you lack the help of God who can free you from worry. If you’re an unfaithful Christian, you must turn back to God if you want His help. All of us must turn from sin and trust Christ (Mark 1:15).
2. Be honest with somebody about your worries. Some of us (especially Christian leaders) realize that worry is problematic, so we don’t tell anybody.  Bearing worries alone, though, only increases the burden. It’s also selfish—it ignores the help of others who love us, and silly—it assumes no one else will understand.
3. Recognize worry for what it is: a lack of faith. Writing those words is painful to me as a worrier, but I can’t ignore the reality. Worry says, “I’m not convinced God is going to take care of this problem.” One of my steps in overcoming worry is to repent, and I’ve learned that taking this step can itself be freeing.
4. Pray about what worries you. That’s what Paul told us to do in the rest of Philippians 4:6—“but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Humbly cast your cares on God by talking to Him (Psa. 55:22; 1 Pet. 5:6-7). Frankly, most of us would worry less if we just prayed more.
5. Read the Word, and watch for stories about God’s care for His people. I realize this suggestion may sound far too basic, but that doesn’t make it any less imperative. Worry is bad thinking, and bad thinking can be driven out only by the truth that sets us free (John 8:31-32). Pour the things of God into your head (Phil. 4:8).
6. Memorize and recite Jesus’ words as often as you need them. Particularly, quote these words: “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” (Matt. 6:27). Worry doesn’t accomplish anything, except hinder our relationship with our Go—who, by the way, isn’t worried about anything.   
7. Thank God for every victory over worry He grants you–even if the victory seems small. Our victory ultimately is in Jesus, and it is He who empowers us to push beyond our worry. Be grateful.
8. Don’t let the enemy win. It’s Satan who wants you to be bound up in worry. When you worry, ask God to break the enemy’s power over your life. Christ has already broken Satan’s back anyway (Col. 2:15), and He can give you peace the world won’t understand (Phil. 4:7).

Merry Christmas

 

J. I. Packer said: “The crucial significance of the cradle at Bethlehem lies in its place in the sequence of steps down that led the Son of God to the cross of Calvary, and we do not understand it till we see it in this context. The key text in the New Testament for interpreting the Incarnation is not, therefore, the bare statement in John 1:14, ‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us,’ but rather the more comprehensive statement of 2 Corinthians 8:9, ‘You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.’ Here is stated not the fact of the Incarnation only, but also its meaning; the taking of manhood by the Son is set before us in a way which shows us how we should ever view it—not simply as a marvel of nature, but rather as a wonder of grace.”

This Lord's Day (December 24, 2023) at Rainsville First Baptist Church

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve so we will only have our 10:15 Worship Service filled with music, prayers, and a sermon.  There is no Sunday School or traditional Christmas Eve service in the evening.

I will be preaching a very unusual Christmas message tomorrow partially in light of the war going on in Israel and how that war relates to the Christmas story (for it does!!).  War is a part of life, but even most wars have had ceasefires during Christmas.  But there is one war going on that does not take Christmas off but in face intensifies.  

Join us for worship tomorrow as we look at the "War at Christmas" based on Revelation 12: 1-6.

The Making of a Prayer Journal - Part Five (Praying Hedge of Protection over your family)

Last Wednesday I shared information about praying for your family and mentioned this resource from Dr. Gregory Frizzell in his book "Powerful Prayer for Every Family" on "Seven Prayers for a Hedge of Protection and Growth."  I want to share that resource here.

1. Protection of the Heart

Father, I trust you to guard (insert names) their hearts and help them ever look to You in love and reverence. By Your grace, cause them to know, love and fear Your name.  Guard their hearts from all lesser desires and passions. Lord, please fill them with the continual sense of Your presence and spirit of worship. (Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 15: 8; 22:37; John 4: 23-24; 17:3)

2. Protection of the Mind

Lord Jesus, I believe You to guard (insert names) minds and cause their thoughts to be taken captive to Yourself. Protect them from the suggestions of the world, the flesh and the devil. Fill them with the Holy Spirit and the very mind and thoughts of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5; 1 Corinthians 2:16)

3. Protection of Desires, Emotions and Passions

Dear Lord, I trust You to guard (insert names) desires, emotions and passions.  Protect and shield them from improper attractions. Please fill them with hunger and thirst for righteousness.  Grant them a passion to glorify and hallow Your name.  Deliver them from the works of the flesh and fill them with the fruit of the Spirit. (Matthew 5:6, Galatians 5:18-22)

4. Protection from Wrong Relationships

Holy Father, I believe You to guard (insert names) from harmful relationships. Surround them with godly companions, friends and co-workers.  Grant powerful awareness and strong conviction when a relationship is becoming unwholesome or wrong. Protect them from wrong involvements and fill them with supernational wisdom. (2 Corinthians 6:14)

5. Protection of the Eyes and Ears

Blessed Lord, I trust You to guard (insert names) eyes and ears from evil and fill their minds with Christ. Grant keen discernment when they see or hear evil. When they see or hear evil, cause their hearts to be repulsed, not enticed. Fill them with a pure eye, a clean mind and deep conviction of truth. (Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 6:22)

6. Protection from Physical, Financial and Spiritual Danger

Sovereign Lord, I believe You to guard (insert names) physically, spiritually, emotionally, mentally and financially.  Please send mighty angels to hedge their paths and protect their steps. Fill them with blessing, health, safety, guidance and purpose. Cause them to clearly hear Your voice and walk in Your steps. Bless them indeed and use them for Your glory. (1 Chronicles 4: 9-10; Psalm 23: 91; 3 John 2)

7. Protection from Satanic Attack, Deception and Harassment

Blessed Savior, I trust You to guard (insert names) from all attack, deception, harassment and harm from Satan and his demons. Open their eyes to the deceptions and tactics of the Devil.  Fill their minds with Your truth. Please tear down any strongholds or vulnerabilities in their lives. (Name any stronghold and tear them down by the weapons of prayer and Scripture).  (2 Corinthians 10: 3-5; Ephesians 6:10)

Lord, cause Satan to release his grip and flee from their lives. Put about them the whole armor of truth, righteousness, peace and the shield of faith.  For their particular stronghold or weakness, pray for them to be filled with the opposite trait of spiritual strength (examples: fear/peace; anger/gentleness, lust/purity, wrong desires/right desires, pride/humility, etc."

This is material by Dr. Gregory Frizzell

The Golden Gift of Christmas

Dr. Stephen Olford said, "Gold is the currency of worship."  One of the favorite stories surrounding Christmas time is the visitation of the maji to the house where Jesus was as recorded in Matthew 2: 1-12.  We don't know how old he was but we know he is no longer in the stable (verse 11) and he is less than two years old (verses 13-15).  

These "wise men" were astrologists who had been fascinated with the star seen from the east.  They followed it to Jerusalem and on to Bethlehem to find the young Child.  There they presented gifts.  Where did they get these gifts?  Most likely they had them simply in their possession from home thinking they might have had to sell them to finance their trip.

Three gifts were presented which often causes us to believe there were three of these men but we don't know that for sure.

* Gold - Gold was for the king.  It is the most precious and valuable metal of them all.  By giving it they were acknowledging Jesus as the King.

* Frankincense - This was used by an incense used by priests in temple worship.  By giving it they were acknowledging Jesus as a priest - the One who can bring us to God.

* Myrrh - This was a fragrant ointment used to anoint a body for burial.  It had a bitter taste.  But giving it they were acknowledging Jesus had come to die for the sins of the world.  From the cradle, you can see the cross.

They brought gifts for our King, Priest, and Savior.

But gold is what gets my attention here.

Gold is not only the currency of worship but of God.

Gold was overlaid on the mercy seat in the Temple.  This mercy seat was where God met man to forgive their sins.  This seat was a wooden box representing the humanity of man and it was covered with gold representing God.  This was a picture of Jesus who was both human and divine.

Haggai 2: 8 "The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine," says the Lord of hosts.

Revelation 21:21 "And the street (singular) of the city was pure gold, ..."

God owns all the gold!!!

So when we come to worship, we should bring our gold - the best offering - to emphasize the importance of worship in our life and to honor the King to whom we give.

But there is one thing more precious to God than gold.

I Peter 1: 18-19 "knowing you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver and gold, ... but with the precious blood of Christ, as a lamb without blemish and without spot."

The blood of Jesus is more precious to the FAther than gold.  

So what this says to me is this...we are to bring our best (gold) offering to God for worship, but what He honors the most is the presence of His Son's blood on us.  

This Lord's Day (December 17, 2023) at Rainsville First Baptist Church

The war between Israel and Gaza (Hamas) has captured all of our attention and possibly, even drained many of us of energy.  Why is this so important?  And especially why is it so important to us as believers?

In preparation for the message I will preach on Christmas Eve, I feel it is appropriate I lay some groundwork for why Israel is so vital and why we support the Jews.  So, tomorrow we will gather around the Word of God from Genesis through Revelation to see the plans and purposes God has for the Jews.

There are notes prepared for the worshipper tomorrow, but you can also see those same notes here where each Sunday you can see the livestream of the service. 

We look forward additionally to singing, giving, praying,  and fellowshipping as we gather for worship.

The Making of a Prayer Journal - Part Five (Praying for your Family)

As we continue to look at each day of the week creating our prayer journal, today we look at Monday when we pray for our families.

Joshua 24:15 "But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord."

We want our family to walk in the will of God and to serve the Lord with gladness and joy.  

Pray for their salvation, santification, and for God to direct their every step.

Pray for them by name, their spouses, and future spouses.

Pray for your siblings, parents, and grandparents.

Here is a wonderful resource to use in praying 30 Days for your Children.

Here is a great book by Dr. Gregory Frizzell on Praying for your Family.

In Dr. Frizzell's book, he talks about "Praying a Hedge of Protection and Growth" over your family.  Next week I am going to share this resource here on this blog.  It is that important.

The Greatest Story Ever Told! by Wade Trimmer

Hearing the word “story” connected with Christmas causes many to think of the event as being a fable or a fairy tale. Couple this with the story of Santa Claus, reindeer, trees, stockings, and gifts, and it’s easy to see why one would lump them all together as just another traditional, but untrue story.

I fear that many people have come to feel the same way about Christmas as one little girl felt. Sitting on Santa’s knee in the mall, she asked, “Are you a politician?”

“Why do you ask?” Santa replied.

“Because you always promise more than you can deliver,” she said.

The First Advent of King Jesus revealed that Father God had not promised more than He could deliver on. The birth of Messiah Jesus was the fulfillment of the promises that God had been making for centuries to Israel, the Old Covenant people of God.

On the first Christmas night almost 2,000 years ago, God delivered on His promises as the Star of the story of God’s unfolding drama of redemption is born in Bethlehem.

The Christmas Event is the greatest story the world has ever heard. The good news it brought and brings – the gospel - is the invitation to tear up all our own little scripts and self-made stories, and enlist, with a clean start and a strategic part, as members of the cast in God’s big redemptive story.

It is my humble opinion, that for too long we have viewed the Bible as a book about what we are supposed to do instead of seeing it as a word portrait of who God is. We have gleaned principles and precepts, formulas, and favorite lessons from it, and yet missed the big picture, the big story – the metanarrative.

“Metanarrative” means “big story.” It is a worldview in story shape. It means a big, comprehensive story that explains who we are, how we got here, why we are as we are, and where we are going. It is a universal that is big enough to cover all the particulars. A metanarrative shapes who we are, what we believe, what we aspire to be, as well as our vision of truth. When we lose it, we lose our identity, we lose ourselves.

The Bible is a metanarrative from creation to new creation. And because it is, as followers of King Jesus, we affirm with confidence what modern man denies, i.e., that there is a master story that makes sense of all reality. We offer what modern man demands, i.e., a real, historical, yet very personal story of the one true and living God who made us and then in the person of His Son, was willing to become one of us in order to redeem us from destruction. And then through His salvation, He would come, not only to redeem us from our sins, self, and Satan, but to intimately relate to us God by moving in to live in us in a forever love relationship! Glory to God in the Highest!

The weight of glory that this story carries makes me feel like the man who had been married for over twenty years and was asked why he and his wife had no children. He replied, “My wife is impregnable.” Realizing that this statement didn’t sound right, he corrected himself. “No, she’s inconceivable.” Even more dissatisfied, he said, “No, no, that’s not right. I guess you could just say that she’s unbearable!” Anyone trying to explain the marvel, mystery, majesty, and miracle of the big redemptive story of God experiences the same difficulty this man had.

God’s big glory story declares that He has spoken fully, finally and in a forever way in the Word that became flesh and dwelt among us as the glory of God - the Promised Messiah, the Star of the Story – the Fulfiller of all its prophecies and types.

The woman at the well in John 4:25 said in Peterson’s Message, “I do know that the Messiah is coming. When He arrives, we will get the whole story.” The whole gospel tells the whole, and old, old, but ever true story of Jesus and His love.

Philip Greenslade sums up the Big Story as he writes: “In him, the ‘Final Word made flesh’ (Jn. 1:14; Heb.1:1), the story of Israel is successfully written, the story of God is fully revealed, and the story of the world redeemingly redrawn.”

What’s your story? Living the “American dream”? Is it getting a good education, a good job, a good mate, get a couple of good children, get a lot of good stuff – cash, cars, clothes, cabins - a good house in a good neighborhood, occasionally attend a good church filled with good people, take a lot of good vacations, enjoy a good time golfing, gardening, and hunting and fishing, then retirement with good health, so that you can go to a good place called Heaven?

May I suggest to you that your story is far too small, too self-centered, and will never satisfy the reason for your being – that why-am-I-here cry that constantly echoes in the chambers of your heart.

Let me invite you to tear up your little script and join the cast of God’s Big Story. When you get truly captured by it, you’ll be so captivated with it that you’ll be compelled by love to tell the old, old story of God’s redeeming love. You’ll begin to understand that everything we do as believers - as those who are ‘in Christ’ - makes sense because it is connected to God’s big story, illuminating who we are in Christ, who He is in us, and what we are here for.

The hopes and fears of all the years have been meet in Messiah Jesus. We, as the Israel of God, with an assured offspring that will be as the stars of the sky in number, and as fellow members of a holy nation, can live as royal priest, re-presenting God to man and man to God – telling the greatest story ever told – God’s Big Glory Story of Redeeming Love!

The Lord's Day (December 10, 2023) at Rainsville First Baptist Church

What is your best Christmas memory?  I'm sure it involved a gift of some kind.  Was it a new car?  The vacation of a lifetime?  Money? A house?  Did you get engaged?  Married? Have a parent, spouse, or child returned from the military?  Have a baby?

I think I know for sure.  Your best Christmas gift did not involve a candy cane or a sack of coal.  

The gifts of Christmas, in whatever form they come, are what makes Christmas so remarkable and memorable.

While the experience in Matthew 2: 1-11 is not at the actual birth of Christ, it is always connected with the Christmas story.  Wise men come to visit bringing gifts.

But it was Paul who gave voice to what we all believe when he said in II Corinthians 9: 15 "Thanks be to God for the indescribable gift!!"

There is a gift beyond words.  There is a gift so grand we can't describe it.

Tomorrow we will gather at 10:15 for worship to sing, pray, hear the Word of the Lord, and then give our gift during our annual "March to the Manger."  Our Christmas gift to Jesus is a gift to missions.  Can't wait.

The Making of a Prayer Journal - Part Four (Praying for your Church)

In the post last week, I gave you the seven topics for which we would pray daily.  For the next 3-4 weeks I want to share how to pray each day for these subjects.

On Sunday, we pray for our church.  Pray Colossians 1: 3 "We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you."

Pray for our Sunday worship service for the complete work of the Holy Spirit to be accomplished through His Word, for the manifested presence of Jesus to be experienced, and for God to be greatly glorified. 

Pray for the unsaved guests and members who attend to be captured by the Holy Spirit resulting in them repenting and placing their full faith in Jesus Christ alone.

Pray for God to call our pastors and missionaries from among our church family.

Pray for your Pastor as He preaches.  Pray for God to anoint him with fresh oil.  Pray for our hearts to be open and sensitive to the Word coming from God's man to God's people at this time.

On this day, pray by name for your Pastor and his family.  Pray for each ministerial staff member and their families.  Pray for the elders and deacons of the church.

Pray for Sunday School teachers.

Pray for revival in the church.  

There is a great resource here for "31 Days of Praying for Your Pastor"

I have a sheet inserted into my prayer journal for each of the different persons on this day.

What the War in the Middle East tells us about Feminism and the Gender Movement

This past Thursday (November 30, 2023) Dr. Al Mohler spoke on his daily podcast "The Briefing" about the war in the Middle East giving some unique insights into our modern-day culture wars and what this war is revealing about them.

Dr. Mohler is President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, and has been for over 30 years.  He is a man who has a great mind for the Word of God and for culture bringing the two together  each day in his podcast "The Briefing."  

He noted two things about the continual release of hostages.

1. Women and children are being released first and are the ones being of top priority in the negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

Interestingly, he notes, that in our day of feminism and equal rights for women, no one is marching against this emphasis on women and children being released ahead of men.  It would seem if you are for "equal rights" across the board, that should also go for war.

2. The absence of distinction when identifying those being released.

The negotiations are for men, women, and children to be released.  No mention of the gender war going on concerning pronouns, non-binary or transgender.  They are simply being referred to as men and women, boys and girls.

Why? Because in war and death, all of these other things are not primary.  The moral obligation in these days of literal life and death is not gender or equality.

So it raises the question, if at our time of death what we forced others to call us or how we identified is not important, then why is it worth our time in the precious moments of life?

You can listen to his entire podcast here.

This Lord's Day (December 3, 2023) at Rainsville First Baptist Church

We sometimes forget the church's impact beyond our doors through partners.  Paul knew the importance of partnership with the church at Philippi and Corinth.  This partnership between churches and partners was two-fold:  prayer and giving.  He even called it "your fellowship in the gospel" in Philippians 1:5. 

We tend to forget because it is mainly done with fanfare, but as a church, we have partners in the gospel that extend our mission throughout the world.  

Tomorrow, we are going to look at this "Partnership in the Gospel" based on Philippians 1: 4-5 and II Corinthians 8:4.  What does it mean for us at Rainsville First Baptist Church?

Also tomorrow, we join millions of Southern Baptists around the world as we embark on a week-long prayer journey in praying for over 3,600 Southern Baptists missionaries in the world.  The annual "Week of Prayer for International Missions" begins tomorrow.

Also tomorrow, Gary Blevins, Chairman of Deacons, will have a special announcement for the church.

Can't wait for it all....

The Making of a Prayer Journal - Part Two

I apologize for my absence last week.  I thought I had done the blog ahead of time due to the surgery of my wife, but apparently, I didn't.  So I pick up where I left off by talking about a prayer journal.

Here are two pictures of my prayer journal.  One simply shows the size of it and the other one shows the tabs I will share about here today.

You get the seven tabs for your journal to divdie it up according to the day of the week.  Each day you pray for a different area of your life.  Here is my schedule:

Sunday - your church (leaders, special needs, events) and the worship service today

Monday - your family

Tuesday - fellow believers especially your Sunday School class and your J-Life group

Wednesday - Those in authority (local, state, national)

Thursday - Lost and backslidden

Friday - World vision, missionaries

Saturday - other churches and pastors

The Lord's Day (November 26, 2023) at Rainsville First Baptist Church

How do you feel when you get what you wanted but after getting it, you discover it was not the best option?  That is the path for those who manipulate and deceive in order to gain what they want.  But then the fruit of their actions turns sour and bitter.

I look forward tomorrow to being back in the pulpit as we continue our study through the life of Jacob as we examine this next episode of "As the Saga Continues" with the family of Isaac, Rebekah, Esau, and Jacob in Genesis 27: 41-46.  There is no soap opera ever been written with more sad turns than this story.  If we could only see the story up to now, we would throw this family under the bus, throw up our hands, and declare there is no hope.  But we know the end of the story and one of these good-for-nothing dudes becomes Israel - the Prince of God!!!  WHAT?  

And there is only one reason - God's grace.  But as grace has always been - amazing, a stunner, a show changer.

Tomorrow we will begin our preparation for our annual March to the Manger set for Sunday, December 10 and we will pray over Zeb Ferguson and Keirstan Hiett before their wedding on December 2.  What a day!!!

Did I mention it?  And we will begin to enjoy the most beautiful setting in all of Rainsville (and maybe all of Alabama) - our church building at Christmas.

Implications of When Life Begins - Part Three

So the last two weeks we have learned only God is the source of life and mankind is only stewards of the gift of life. Since life can only come from life, then all life is a gift of God. 

Life begins when a living cell produces another living cell. At conception.

So what are the implications of this sacred truth?

1. There is no such thing as an "unwanted" pregnancy.  Since no pregnancy can happen with God approving it, then all pregnancies are ordained by God, the giver of life.  This gives each person purpose and meaning.  No one is an accident.  

This is what captured Jeremiah's heart in Jeremiah 1: 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, Before you were born I sanctified you; and I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

God is assuring Jeremiah in his time of distress and doubt that it was for this purpose of being a prophet God permitted Jeremiah to come into this world.  And that is the same for each one of us.  We find our purpose only when we realize it was God who ordained us to be born at this particular time and place.  He makes no mistakes.

There may be "unplanned" pregnancies according to man, but not to God.  Let me remind you, our whole gospel rests on the foundation of an "unplanned" pregnancy.  Mary did not plan to get pregnant and her pregnancy was no normal pregnancy, because it came directly from God.  Joseph had a legal right to put her to death, but only when God intervened through an angel did it stop. 

2.  We must seriously encourage all those who are pregnant to steward the life within them well. 

I want to introduce this generation to a lady I remember from my childhood.  Her name was Ethyl Waters.  She was a frequent soloist with the Billy Graham Crusades.  She was born October 31, 1896 and died September 1, 1977.  What I remember about her life was her mother was raped by a man at the age of 13 which produced Ethyl.  Thank God her mother did not get an abortion. 

Ms. Waters had a multi-flavored life of singing and acting, but she rededicated her life in a Billy Graham Crusade and became a regular.  My favorite song she would sing is this:

One last word...no matter what anyone has ever done with a pregnancy, their life, or another life....our God is a God who is bigger than our sins.  There is only one sin God will not forgive and it is NOT abortion or murder. Romans 5:20 - "But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more."  There is no sin greater than the grace of God.  God's grace is greater than any and all of our sins.  Turn to Him today to find rest for our souls. 

This Lord's Day (November 19, 2023) at Rainsville First Baptist Church

Tomorrow Bro. Max Grizzard will be preaching as we celebrate the goodness of God this Sunday before Thanksgiving.  Also, he has been invited to preach at the Community Thanksgiving Service hosted at Maranatha Baptist Church with the service beginning at 6:00.  Our Praise Team will also be leading the music at that service.

There will be no Wednesday night services next week due to Thanksgiving week.

When Does Life Begin? - Part Two

Last Monday we Scripturally saw only God is the source of life and there is no life without God granting it.  When God gave "life" to the first man in Genesis, he also gave man the command "Be fruitful and multiple; fill the earth...."

God gave man the power to transfer this life.  Where did the first woman come from?  Man.  The first man did not come from a woman, but God, and the first woman came from man.  Man is the steward of the life God gave him.

As I said last week, we are stewards of this life, we are not the originators of this life.  We will answer to God how we viewed, handled, and propagated this gift.  

So life does not come from the woman, but is given to the woman through the man.  She, like the man, is a steward of the gift granted to her by the man as an instrument of God. She is to care deeply, and reverence supernaturally the gift of life inside of her.  She, like the man, will give an account to God for how she stewards this unique gift.

So when does life begin?  Since living cells can only come from living cells, then the moment the single cell of life comes into the womb of the woman and fertilizes, there is life!!!  Even before she knows she is pregnant, she is pregnant with life.  For life begets life.

Yes, life begins at conception.  That's the only answer.  

Thus, it is both the man's and the woman's responsibility and privilege to steward the gift of life given and carried.  The woman could not have become pregnant without the gift, and the man did not give the gift as if he is a superman and creator of life.  Both received the gift of life from God.  

The seed of life does not belong to either the man or the woman.  This settles the argument that "its my body and I can do with it what I want." 

That seed planted by the man and united with the egg of the woman is now a separate living being - unique with his/her own blood type, DNA.

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;"

One last word...only God determines when conception happens and when it does not.

Several times in Scripture a couple was barren and they would pray asking God to "open her womb" and He would.  God is the one who permits conception.  He is actively and personally involved saying "yes" or "no."

So when to add one other word to the answer to the question of when life begins...when God says so. 

Psalm 139: 13 "For You have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb."

The Lord's Day (November 12, 2023) at Rainsville First Baptist Church

Westerners (everyone west of the Atlantic Ocean, not just the Mississippi River) do not understand the power and privilege of the blessing of a father.  In Jewish tradition (and most all Eastern family structures), the blessing of the father meant position, authority, purpose, and establishing one's future. To not receive the blessing was devasting and demoralizing.

Isaac thinks he's about to die and it is time to bless his elder son with this unique blessing when the scheming and manipulating Jacob (with the help of his mother) tricks his blind, aged Dad into giving him the blessing.

What a scene of this soap opera family.  So are the plans of God derailed now?  

Tomorrow we will look at this story in Genesis 27 and discover for us Westerners the power of the blessing of the father.  And we will discover we are in direct line of receiving the blessing of our Heavenly Father through His Son, Jesus.  Oh, what power, privilege, authority, position, and establishing our future.

Also this Sunday we will honor our Veterans who have served our country giving thanks to God and them for their sacrificial service.  We will also pray for those who are currently serving and especially in these troublesome days.

We will also bring in our Operation Christmas Child boxes and pray over them.

What a great day!!!

The Making of a Prayer Journal - Part One

As I began last Wednesday talking about discipleship, this will be an explanation over the next few weeks on how we view discipleship and our J-Life ministry at Rainsville First Baptist.

We call it J-Life because we ask what would the life of Jesus look like being lived through me.

I want to begin with "How to Make a Prayer Journal."

Exodus 16:33 records how Israel was instructed to save two quarts of manna as a reminder of God's care for them in the wilderness.  I'm sure when generations would see the quarts of manna, questions would be asked and a reminder would be given of God's faithfulness to provide for the needs of His children.

It was a reminder....Oh how we need to be reminded of God's faithfulness in our lives.  He has been faithful and His acts in our life needs to be a constant source of faith that He will continue to be faithful.

This journal will also serve as a legacy to pass to your children and grandchildren.  They will read of your notes and prayer points showing them the faithfulness of God in your life.  Oh, what a blessing such journals would be to the next generation.

I love Southern Gospel music and there is no one greater of a writer and singer than Dottie Rambo.  She wrote, "Roll back the curtain of memory now and then. Show me where you brought me from and where I could have been.  Just remember I'm human, and humans forget. So remind me, remind me dear Lord."

We do forget what He's done and we need to be reminded.  One of the greatest ways to remember is through a journal.  So how do we begin?

I suggest two different types of journals or notebooks.  One to record our daily walk with God, sermon notes, and notes from other sources we want to "capture."  We will talk about this in later weeks.

Then the second notebook is a prayer journal. A 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 size is the best but anything can work.  There are many journals now being made and that is fine to use.  However, a prayer journal will change and you need flexibility to add sheets and remove sheets.  These journals produced are great to journal your time with God and sermon notes, but for an actual prayer journal, a loose-leaf notebook would be best.  But anything is better than nothing.

Get seven dividers and index tabs where you can create a section in your notebook for each day of the week.  Each section will be for prayer needs for which you regularly pray.  These are not just immediate needs (such as the prayer requests from your Sunday School class or a friend), but requests for which we should pray through on a regular basis.  

Here is a picture of my prayer journal just to give you an idea.

I will write next week about the seven tabs.