Victory Over Temptation

Let's talk about temptation. How do you keep a decision to do wrong from getting the best of you?

Realize that temptation is a part of life. The Bible tells us Jesus was tempted in every way we are--every way. The big difference in Him and all of us is that He never gave in to it.

So, how can we keep temptation from getting the best of us?

* Just say no. Don't take time to flirt with it, or even argue. Just say no.
* Ask God's help to resist it. For things too tough to resist, things you battle constantly, simply admit they're too tough and ask God's help in resisting them. The power used by the only Man to never give in to temptation is available to all of us. We just need to confess our weakness and admit our need for Him and His strength.
* Then scram. Get out of there! This is one time in life when running is not cowardly, but the bravest thing you can do.

1 Corinthians 10:13 KJV

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Nothing Is Impossible With God

One of the greatest verses in the Bible is, "For nothing will be impossible with God." Do you believe it? It's what the angel told Mary, the mother of Jesus, when he announced that she would give birth to God's son as a virgin.

If you are facing a particularly tough challenge where you need strength and wisdom beyond yourself, will you believe nothing will be impossible with God?

If you are in a season of grief and not sure you can make it, will you believe nothing will be impossible with God?

If you are facing discouragement, disappointment, depression, or despair, will you believe nothing will be impossible with God?

If you are struggling in your family, will you believe nothing will be impossible with God?

Mary did and because she did, Jesus came to be our savior. He died and rose, conquering sin and death for you and me. The story of Jesus reminds us of how nothing will be impossible with God.

Mark 10:27 KJV

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

The Lighthouse

Tom Landry told the story of a captain of a battleship who, in the middle of the night, saw the light of another ship coming directly at him. The captain radioed the oncoming ship and said, "Turn south immediately."

The response was, "You turn south immediately."

The captain was furious. He radioed back, "This is a battleship. I command you to turn south immediately."

The response was, "This is the lighthouse. You turn south immediately."

Often we have an attitude like that captain's. We are arrogant towards God and mankind. We expect others to get out of our way and we ignore God's guidance for living our life. Then, suddenly, we find ourselves shipwrecked and feeling like fools.

Jesus Christ is the lighthouse trying to warn us of danger, and lead us to safety. I encourage you to trust Christ and be willing to follow His leadership in your life. He will keep you out of a lot of trouble.

John 12:35 KJV

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

Elijah

Prayer Heroes: Elijah

When you read the Bible a lot, certain patterns emerge. One that has come to surprise me is the strategy that God keeps going back to over and over, especially when a major crisis looms. That strategy is to send one guy. In the 9th century B.C., at a time of terrible spiritual weakness and even worse spiritual leadership, God’s Plan A was to send Elijah to rebuke an evil king (sounds like a death sentence) and to encourage the few faithful believers.

Elijah was sent to oppose the spiritual ruination being brought about by Ahab and his miserably idolatrous wife Jezebel. They developed a reputation for simply having their opponents killed.

Elijah was God’s agent in bringing about a punitive drought and famine, but also in bringing about the merciful rainfall that ended them. “Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain” (James 5:17,18).

When you are in tune with God’s agenda, your prayers have the power of dynamite. Don’t ever say, “I’m just one.” From God’s point of view, one is plenty.

James 5:17-18 KJV

Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Church

Church

How do you feel about church? Do you think it's full of hypocrites? A place for weaklings? A self-righteous, religious club?

All those charges may be true. After all, churches are made up of people, and people are not perfect. Imperfect people make for imperfect churches. In fact, if you ever find a perfect church, please don't join it. You'll mess it up in a skinny second.

The church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints. It's a place where people go to improve their spiritual health. It's a place where people go for encouragement, and to get their spiritual batteries recharged.

For non-Christians, it's where they learn what it means to follow Christ and how to have a relationship with God. Why not give church a try? After all, what makes you think you're going to like heaven, if you don't want to be with God's people here on earth?

Psalm 65:4 KJV

Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.

The Antchrist

Who's the most charismatic leader you've ever seen - past or present? Is it a political leader, religious leader, or a leader in academia? Leaders can be a tremendous influence for good or evil.

The Bible talks about a great leader who will burst onto the world scene. He will appear to be good, seeking to bring unity and peace to the world. He will focus on the desire for economic prosperity. He will be an extraordinarily brilliant and gifted leader who will cause the world to be in awe.

But don't be led astray. The Bible calls him the Antichrist. He will be incredibly attractive and charismatic, but all about himself. He will be the embodiment of evil, but appear to be good. He will be an imposter and counterfeit of the one Man who will ultimately bring true peace--Jesus Christ. That's why this man is called the Antichrist. Study what the Bible says about the contrast of the

Antichrist and Jesus. Believe, and don't be deceived.

Matthew 24:24 KJV

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

God Is

Does God not do beautiful things? Yes he does.

God's Standard

Today, when it seems that religious faith is seen as negative and even bigoted, I hope you will consider God's Word. Only one person in all of history has lived up to this standard, and that was Jesus Christ. He alone was just and kind and walked with His Father, God. He can help you live out life today as a demonstration of what true faith is. Why not try it? "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith." (Galatians 3:11 KJV)

Rapture

Rapture
Chuck Swindoll
"When the rapture happens some churches will be left half full, some won't even know the rapture ever happened."

Back in Church

The was one of my devotions this morning. I thought it was very good and thought provoking. "Will it take six strong men to get you back in church again? Six strong men to carry your body in a casket down the aisle?

The church is a place to worship, to be encouraged, to be spiritually rejuvenated, and a place to learn what it means to have a true relationship with God. There's no perfect church because there are no perfect people. And imperfect people need God and the forgiveness and salvation He offers in Jesus. I encourage you to find a church. If six strong men have to carry you there, it will be too late."

God Is Faithful

Isn't it great to serve our God who is always faithful to us even when we are not faithful to Him. "Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;" (Deuteronomy 7:9 KJV)

Success

They Word of God holds the key to our success. Listen to what the book of Joshua has to say about it. "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:7 KJV)

How big?

How big is your faith? How big is your God? How big do you dare to pray? Jesus spoke to his disciples after calming the storm. "And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" (Mark 4:40 KJV)

Taking your spiritual pulse.

Prayer isn’t like fertilizing your lawn, which is indeed helpful to your grass but not absolutely necessary. Prayer is one of your soul’s vital signs. It shows if your faith has a pulse. "Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" (Deuteronomy 6:12 KJV)

Prayer not heard?

I know one reason why people don’t pray much and why God doesn’t hear from me more: arrogance. When you’re pretty full of yourself and think you can do it all, praying seems like begging, or worse, a waste of time. "And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" (Luke 12:17-20 KJV) Fro Teach Me To Pray Devotional

Who are you really?

Matthew 23:28 "Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." A recent Gallup poll found 72% of Americans believe that Jesus was the Son of God, yet 80% felt each individual should arrive at his or her own beliefs independent of any church. Now those two stats show a huge disconnect between belief and practice, between professing faith and living it. It's called hypocrisy and it's the number one reason people outside the church say they have no interest in Christianity.

What moves you in life?

Paul had some things to say about what did not move him. "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24 KJV)

Condemned or not condemned

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1, 2 KJV)

The Brent Rochester Family

Praise God for missionaries like Bro. Brent, Franci, Isaac, Kidron, and Micah Rochester who travel encouraging the saints and telling people about Jesus.

Church Gathering

When the church gathers in Jesus name, he will be there. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Matthew 18:20 KJV)

Saved

Isn't it wonderful to be saved. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8, 9 KJV)

Love

How to suspect a person belongs to God's family is found in what Jesus said. "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." (John 13:34-35)

Help

May God turn our setbacks into comebacks. "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Romans 8:37 KJV)

Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday night at Lighthouse Baptist Church. I preached on "The Blood Of Jesus Christ."

Being Holy

God wants us to be a holy people, separated unto him. " But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15, 16 KJV)

Do As I Do

Can you believe Paul said, "Do as I do." "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you." (Philippians 4:9 KJV)

Beauty

I was going to church at enterprise last Sunday night and saw this.

Wonderful Day

We had another wonderful day at Lighthouse. God is so good. He's great. He's wonderful. A lot to say. Not enough words or phrases to explain God.

Church Day

Thank the Lord we can go to church on Sunday and learn the Word of God together. "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory". (Ephesians 1:13, 14 KJV)

Praise

God truly wants us to praise him with all our heart.

Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. (Psalm 71:8 KJV)

Tomorrow

I am looking for a great day at church tomorrow. God is so good to give us a day to worship together.