Devotions Archives

4 Laws of the Harvest

Kayleen Dreesman on September 22, 2020

By Pastor Raymond Wicks | September 22, 2020

Galatians 6:7-9, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

1. We Reap Where We Sow

Where is our emphasis? Is it in:

Family
Ministry
Work
Finances
Relationships
Recreation
Spiritual
Evangelism
Giving

We will reap where we sow. Let’s not expect to reap in a field where we did not sow.

2. We Reap in a Different Season Than We Sow

“In due season…” Let’s not get weary in well doing.

We live in a “now” generation. Farmers usually have to wait months, sometimes years, after planting seeds before reaping their harvest.

Parents, don’t give up. Don’t get weary. Continue training your children even in the difficult times. Have patience that the right harvest will arrive in due time.

Make our marriage a priority. Men, treat her like a world class business associate. Ladies, treat him with respect and love. You may be surprised by the wonderful results.

The Bible teaches that if we faithfully witness with compassion for the Lord, we will eventually reap. Psalm 126:5-6, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

Work diligently. Faithfully tithe. Give offerings and alms. Be patient and trust His Word. He will bless in due season!

3. We Reap What We Sow

Galatians 6:8, “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”

Flesh reaps flesh. Spirit reaps spirit.

Sadly, many people expect something different than what has been sown.

Job 4:8 says, “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.”

Hosea 10:12-13 says, “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.”

Saved people have their old nature and, thankfully, a new nature. “…and these are contrary the one to the other…” Galatians 5:17

To sow bad things is not hard. Those who try to maintain a beautiful lawn know that dandelions and crabgrass can grow naturally without effort.

That is why it is easier to stay home Sunday morning than to go to church.

It is easier to criticize than to build up.

It is easier to watch TV than to read the Bible.

It is easier to shop than to tithe.

To sow good things will take desire, a plan, and work. But the investment will be worth it.

Sow love, joy, truth, mercy, forgiveness, and longsuffering, and you can look forward to reaping the same.

4. We Reap More Than We Sow

One kernel or seed of corn reaps one full ear of corn, which yields an average of approximately 1056 kernels each.

What we sow is often multiplied in ourselves, our family, or those around us.

Selfishness
Alcoholism
Drugs
Lying

Kindness
Forgiveness
Giving
Service
Godliness

We cannot sow like the devil and expect the blessing of God!

Our godly works will be rewarded and multiplied on earth and in eternity.

Be intentional on where and what you sow and expect a wonderful harvest!

Anxiety Aids from the Bible

Kayleen Dreesman on July 1, 2020

ANXIETY AIDS FROM THE BIBLE

By Dr. George Crabb

1. Rejoice in God’s Sovereignty

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 107:1

God knows everything. He needs no counsel from us.

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord. Proverbs 21:30

Find reasons to rejoice.

2. Realize God is Near

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5

God’s silence does not mean His absence.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. Joshua 1:8-9

3. Bring Your Requests to God

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7

The path to peace is paved with prayer.

4. Recognize God’s Goodness

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6

Look for His goodness in your life.

5. The Result will be the Peace of God

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour… Isaiah 43:2-3

God does His part when we do our part!

5 Prayers in Times of Crisis

Kayleen Dreesman on June 12, 2020

By Silas Young | June 12, 2020

Crisis moments will come into our lives…whether personal or national, it is unavoidable.

How we respond when crisis comes reveals what or who we are trusting. Often our first response is the most telling.

Yes, we can control many aspects of life. We can control what we say, what we do, where we work, and what we wear, just to name a few.

However, there are also many things in life that we cannot control. We cannot control how we naturally look, the color of our eyes, the color of our skin, our genetic makeup, how others treat us, what gender our children will be, and so on. Most of all, we cannot control crisis moments. We cannot control catastrophic storms, disease, pandemic, cancer, or death.

While we cannot control the crisis itself, we can control how WE respond to the crisis.

Prayer is simply asking. Asking God for something that we cannot do for ourselves.

In Matthew chapter 14, Peter faced the crisis of fear and death. It is the chapter where Jesus walked on the water and Peter had the faith to ask Jesus to help him walk on the water too. Peter stepped out of the boat and walked for a time, but then looked away from Jesus and began sinking. In that crisis moment, he prayed.

But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. (Matthew 14:30)

His first reaction revealed his heart. Perhaps this short, two word prayer is one of the most profound examples for us today.

5 PRAYERS IN TIME OF CRISIS

1. Pray for Faith

In Luke 17, the disciples prayed an amazing prayer. After Jesus warned them about the betrayer and admonished them to forgive each other, they asked for more faith.

And the apostles said unto the Lord, increase our faith. (Luke 17:5)

People are not only saved by faith, but Christians are also called to live every day by faith. Crisis times will test our faith, but they also give us an opportunity to show how strong our faith truly is.

Faith is focusing on God more than the crisis. Faith calls our attention to who God is, and what He has the power to do in our lives.

2. Pray for Health

A crisis can be physical, and those are many times some of the hardest to endure. Cancer, virus, or even death. This was not God’s original plan, but as Creator, He has the power to heal if He chooses.

Jesus cared about people’s physical condition as well as their spiritual condition.

All throughout the Gospels people asked (prayed) for Jesus to heal them…and He did. He healed so many, because He loved them. And He loves us!

So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. (Matthew 20:34)

3. Pray for a Solution

Too many times we pray general prayers. Maybe we are afraid to get specific because we lack the faith that God will answer us. Pray for specific solutions in times of crisis.

Several times, Jesus asked what someone wanted specifically.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. (Mark 10:51)

Jesus asked the man to get specific, and when he did, Jesus healed him.

Our country is going through a time of crisis right now. Don’t just pray that God will bless America. Get specific! Pray that people will stop killing each other and that looting and vandalism will end. Pray that God will work in people’s hearts to replace racism with love and to root out the corruption and systemic racism that exists in different areas.

Whatever your crisis is, get specific. God knows the situation.

4. Pray for Leaders

This is a direct command of Scripture.

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (1 Timothy 2:1-2)

In times of crisis, extreme pressure can be placed on leaders. Whether parents as leaders of the family, managers as leaders of the business, pastors as leaders of the church, or government officials as leaders of the country.

Leaders are the decision makers. Think and pray for leaders who must make tough decisions during crisis times.

5. Pray for Opportunities

God is so powerful and loving that He is able to take any situation and bring good out of it for our good and His glory.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

The original language is even stronger in clearly identifying God as the One who causes all things to work together.

In times of crisis, there is always a chance for personal growth and growing your relationship with God. You may learn something or experience something that will allow you to help others in the future. There may even be a chance to share the Gospel with a loved one.

Crisis moments will come. They could be individual or national. They could be physical, emotional or spiritual. How will you respond? What will be your first response?

When crisis moments come…pray!

Sermons on Our Real Theme

MikeGlanzer on March 8, 2018

This resource provides a video sermon playlist featuring sermons on our theme for this year.

We hope you will click to watch the services and sermons and share with friends. We hope to update these each month during the year as Pastor continues this series.

Vision Night – Introduction of the “Real” Theme

A Real God

A Real Relationship

Real Power – Yikes or Yippie?

Real Love

Real Rewards

Check Back for More Sermons on the “Real” Theme

Sermons yet to come on our theme:

Real Spirituality

Real Godly Wisdom

Real Generosity

Real Prayer

Real Bible

Real Evangelism

If you do not have a Bible believing and preaching church, please don’t just watch online, come join us for a service. Here is what to expect.

Christian Worldview Vs. Horrific Tragedy

Why a Christian Worldview Works Even in the Face of Unspeakable Evil On Sunday November 5, at approximately 11:30 am a man walked in to the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, TX and killed or wounded at least 46 people. Many questions arise in the aftermath of tragedy. In the…

November 7, 2017

In “America”

Take Some Time to Start Right – Some Biblical Advice

It is here. A new year is a fresh start. It provides a clean slate to write your story. Here are some biblical ways of doing so to consider as you begin. Of highest importance is knowing for sure you have a vital real relationship with Jesus Christ through the…

January 13, 2017

In “Devotions”

3 Reasons Christ’s Resurrection is so Important.

Easter egg hunts, the Easter Bunny, jelly beans, candy eggs, Easter baskets, and Peeps! All of these are fun and enjoyable parts of Easter, but what if that is all? What if the Easter dinner and the fun were the only things to celebrate? What if Jesus Christ didn’t rise…

March 22, 2016

In “Apologetics”

Forgiveness – The Gift You May Still Need to Give

MikeGlanzer on January 18, 2017

The bows and paper have been tossed by now. The clothes that didn’t fit have been returned. Perhaps you are satisfied with all the gifts you gave and received. We hope so. We all love the satisfaction and joy of knowing that the recipient likes what we gave them. But maybe some of us forgot a very important gift. This gift would benefit the recipient in immeasurable ways, while also liberating the giver from increasing bondage, providing vivid testimony to the gospel, and showcasing Christ-like love to the unsaved world. What gift could do all this? It’s the gift of forgiveness.

In his book Unpacking Forgiveness, Chris Brauns helps us understand that forgiveness is not only right (in that it glorifies God by obeying His will), but it is also best. God, as the standard of holiness and goodness, will only require of His people those things which are best for them. Our joy is completely full only when we live in submission to God’s design for our lives. And part of God’s good design for us is forgiveness to those who’ve sinned against us. Forgiveness is not a bitter pill to swallow; it is the doorway to maximum joy and peace.

Our ability to forgive others is a result of God’s forgiveness of us, and our desire to forgive others is based entirely on His forgiveness of us (Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13). Brauns highlights three ways in which our forgiveness must mirror God’s forgiveness of all those who’ve been redeemed:

1. Forgiveness is gracious (Eph. 2:8,9; 2:4; I John 4:10).God’s forgiveness toward us is a gift motivated by His love for us (Eph. 2:4). But though this gift is graciously offered to all, this gift wasn’t free: God paid for it with the blood of His Son’s death (I John 4:10). In the same way, our forgiveness of others must be freely offered even though it is costly. There is nothing that we have done or ever could do to receive God’s forgiveness; He graciously offers it because He is gracious. Our offer of forgiveness toward others must not be dependent upon their efforts, their remorse, or anything else we want them to do, feel, or say. And it will be costly. We will need to die to ourselves, our desire for revenge, and our pride.

2. Forgiveness is conditional.God’s forgiveness is graciously offered to all, but it’s only given to those who repent and believe (Acts 20:21). God’s forgiveness is dependent; it is conditional. Like any present, God’s gift of forgiveness in Christ must be accepted, or “opened.” As we graciously offer forgiveness to those who have legitimately wronged us, we pray and plead that they will accept it by humble repentance, just as God pleads with all to accept His forgiveness by repentance. Forgiveness is conditional in that both parties involved must be committed to the new life together. Forgiveness is not possible where humility is not present.

3. Forgiveness is a commitment. When God’s gracious offer of forgiveness (that is motivated by His love and costs the death of His Son) is accepted through repentance and faith, God justifies that person. He commits that He will no longer hold that person’s sin against them. There is a legal transaction that frees that person from the condemnation and punishment that was deserved. When we forgive another individual, we make a similar commitment. We enter into an agreement that, though wrong was done, we will no longer hold that sin against that person. Our forgiveness has freed them from the debt that they had accrued.

And this commitment is not temporary or insignificant. True forgiveness means that we are committing to never bring up the offense again – not to that person, not to another person, not to God, and not to ourselves. This is the commitment that God makes to us in Christ. He commits to remove our sin “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12). What tremendous hope is found in this truth! “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” (Psalm 130:3,4)

Of course, forgiveness does not mean that all consequences of wrongdoing are immediately eliminated. Because sin affects others, consequences of sin must sometimes be carried out. And it is in this very process where forgiveness can be most sweetly displayed: Those who are truly repentant and have been forgiven are most ready to accept the consequences of their sin.

Forgiveness frees us from the captivity of revenge. This world tells us that revenge is our right, and that we ought to get even with those who’ve wronged us. But this is in direct contrast to God’s Word. See, in God’s economy, those who forgive others are carrying out the very essence of the gospel. Those who have been forgiven are to be the ones who forgive, and they are to forgive in the very same way they’ve been forgiven. As a result, joy and peace will flood into our lives.

So, what is forgiveness? As author Chris Brauns has said, it is “a commitment by the offended to pardon graciously the repentant from moral liability and to be reconciled to that person, although not all consequences are necessarily eliminated.” If you forgot to give this important gift, consider giving that gift to some family members, coworkers, neighbors, and friends right away this year. You just might be the greatest benefactor of the gift you give another.

If we can be of help to you as you struggle with your hurt, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

First Baptist