Freedom Baptist Church of Greenville

09/14/2026

09/06/2026

Freedom First Sunday today ! 10:30 AM service followed by lunch and Commission Connection in the fellowship hall.

09/05/2026

Devotions
Steve Wagner
Messiah Ministries
Friday, September 4, 2026

“Charity [i.e., agape, self-sacrificial love] suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;” –1st Corinthians 13:4-6

It’s FriYAY y’all! Another week of our journey is winding down. As we prepare for a new day, let us ask the Lord to direct our steps along the pathway today so that we might be a blessing to those we may meet along the way.
Our devotional today is about “Jealousy.” Jealousy often arises from insecurity, fear of losing something we value, or coveting something that someone else has that you think should be yours. The Bible teaches us that jealousy can lead to destructive behavior, and it reminds us that our worth is not determined by what others have. Instead, we are encouraged to focus on our own blessings and the love God has for each of us. By understanding jealousy through the lens of Scripture, we can learn to manage it and not let it control our hearts. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ Who strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:11-13).


“Jealousy”

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” –Romans 12:15

The famous novelist and playwright Samuel Beckett received great recognition for his work-but not from everyone. Beckett's marriage was plagued by his wife's jealousy of his growing fame and success.
So, one day in 1969, Samuel heard her answer the phone, listen for a moment, and hang up. She turned to her husband and with a disappointed tone whispered, “What a catastrophe.” She had just learned that Beckett had been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature!
Jealousy comes in different forms—good and bad. There is the good, kind jealousy that we see in Exodus 20:5 where God tells the Israelites to have no other God except for Him. This is not a jealousy birthed out of insecurity. God was not jealous of other gods… He is jealous for the hearts of His people.
On the other hand, there's a bad kind of jealousy, a jealousy that is rooted in sin and shame and wishes failure on others instead of success. This is the kind of jealousy that, as Christians, we’re to avoid. In fact, as we see others who are successful in life and who God blesses abundantly, we’re to rejoice with them in those blessings!
When you hate others, you are envious of their blessings and angry when they succeed. The Edomites revealed their anger when they helped the Babylonians ravage Jerusalem. Are you envious when others succeed and glad when they fail? Then you may be carrying a grudge. Beware! The judgment you want to fall on your enemy may fall on you!
Don't allow jealousy to embitter you. Instead, rejoice with those whom God blesses and in due time, He’ll bless you, too! Ask God to help you encourage others who are experiencing His blessings and rejoice with them. When you're blessed, they’ll rejoice with you as well! -Adapted from an article in Senior Living


Be an Example

Many now are watching the footsteps that we take;
Many soon will follow in the choices that we make.
So let us then be faithful to be what we should be
And leave a good example that they can clearly see.

Chorus:
Be an example of the believers in word and in conduct;
Be steadfast in love, in faith, in purity of life.
For those behind us, let us stand within the gap
And make a diff'rence in their lives;
Be an example to follow Christ.

Let us then be watching the weary day by day,
Looking to encourage and to lead them in the way;
To run the race with patience on Jesus fix their eyes
And challenge them with excellence that they might win the prize.

Joe Zichterman. ©Copyright 1996 by the Wilds. (CCLI: 21615561)


Until we meet again, KEEP SHINING FOR THE SAVIOR, KEEP SHARING HIS GOOD NEWS, AND KEEP WALKING IN SWEET FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM! MARANATHA!


You can now send support thru our Church Website
Freedombaptistgreenville.com
And choice https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=4d5d8a8d-681c-479e-a6a2-8dc2a86082ca
Choose 💚 Give
Ways to Give
Messiah Ministry Steve Wagner

Messiah Ministries is a
Non profit Ministries out of Freedom Baptist Church
If you’d like to Support our Ministry
Support can also be
Sent to
Messiah Ministries
109 Boysenberry Drive
Taylors SC 29687



THOUGHT: “A grudge against an enemy is a very expensive thing, no matter how much enjoyment you may get nursing it. Ponder Matthew 5:21–26, 43–48.” –W. Wiersbe

TODAY’S HUMOR:
😊 Answering Machine Message:
You know what I hate about answering machine messages? They go on and on, wasting your time. I mean, all they really need to say is, “We aren’t in, leave a message.” That’s why I’ve decided to keep mine simple and short. I pledge to you, my caller, that you will never have to suffer through another long answering machine message when you call me. Thank you for calling and for taking time to leave a message. Please wait for the beep! It’s coming. Please wait for the beep!

09/03/2026

Devotions
Steve Wagner
Messiah Ministries
Wednesday, September 2, 2026

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” –Ephesians 6:12
First Wednesday of September. Time to prepare for another day of our journey to eternity. So, let us begin our day by submitting ourselves to the Lord as a holy, living sacrifice as we seek to serve Him today.
Our devotional today is about something we are all familiar with—the BLAME GAME and is from Ron Black who is a ministry representative for Lighthouse Children’s Homes.
Blaming others, circumstances, or other things are natural responses for us because it comes from our sin nature which we inherited from Adam. When we are tempted with evil, James 4:7 admonishes us— “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.” To resist means to withstand, strive against, or oppose in some manner. Resistance can be a defensive maneuver on our part, such as resisting or withstanding the temptation to sin. Or it can be an action we take to use the only offensive weapon in the full armor of God—“the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” Using the Scriptures to expose Satan’s lies and temptations is the most effective way to strive against and defeat them. As Christians, we don’t have authority to “rebuke” Satan. It is the LORD Who rebukes Satan (Zechariah 3:2). Even Michael, one of the most powerful of the angels, did not dare to accuse Satan, but rather said, “The Lord rebuke thee [i.e., Satan]” (Jude v. 9). Instead, God’s Word tells the believer to “resist” Satan.
In response to Satan’s attacks on believers in Christ, we are to clothe ourselves in the whole armor of God, wield the sword of the Spirit—Word of God, and rely on His power through prayer (Ephesians 6:10-18). Instead of focusing on rebuking the Devil, we should focus on resisting him with the whole armor of God. As Peter says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith…” (1st Peter 5:8-9a).


Sin’s Blame Game

“And the man said, ‘The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.’” –Genesis 3:12

We notice several things when we look at Adam and Eve’s first response to their disobedience to God. One is SHAME. After realizing they were naked, they tried to cover their nakedness by sewing their own apron of leaves. Today, we use works, lies, avoidance, and sometimes religion instead of natural plants; but the biggest leaf we use is to BLAME others.
Like Adam, who blamed Eve, and Eve, who blamed the serpent, today, we blame the world, our past, others, and society. We fail to recognize that it was our choice to do the opposite of what God commands that led us to sin.
How often have you heard someone say their wayward child was hanging out with the “wrong crowd” when they began to wander? That may be true, but if they are doing what the “wrong crowd” is doing, they ARE the WRONG CROWD.
As I read verse 12, I noticed something new. Look what Adam said. Adam blamed God because He made and gave Eve to him. Doesn’t that sound like the party line of the alternative lifestyle culture? “I am this way because God made me that way.” God did not create Eve to lead Adam away from Him, but God gave Eve to Adam to help him.
Just like it was Eve’s choice to listen to the serpent over the command of God, it was Adam’s choice—and his choice alone—to disobey God.
We have lost the concept of personal responsibility and personal sin. We justify our actions to a point where nobody is responsible for their actions. Romans 3:23 is still the same today. Realizing you are a sinner is the first step towards salvation. Stop blaming the world, God, and others, and accept responsibility for your actions.


Yield Not to Temptation

Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each vict’ry will help you some other to win;
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue;
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.

Refrain:
Ask the Savior to help you,
Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
He is willing to aid you,
He will carry you through.

Shun evil companions, bad language disdain,
God’s name hold in rev’rence, nor take it in vain;
Be thoughtful and earnest, kindhearted and true;
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.

To him that o’ercometh, God giveth a crown,
Through faith we will conquer, though often cast down;
He who is our Savior, our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.

Horatio R. Palmer. (Public Domain)


Until we meet again, KEEP SHINING FOR THE SAVIOR, KEEP SHARING HIS GOOD NEWS, AND KEEP WALKING IN SWEET FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM! MARANATHA!


You can now send support thru our Church Website
Freedombaptistgreenville.com
And choice https://give.tithe.ly/?formId=4d5d8a8d-681c-479e-a6a2-8dc2a86082ca
Choose 💚 Give
Ways to Give
Messiah Ministry Steve Wagner

Messiah Ministries is a
Non profit Ministries out of Freedom Baptist Church
If you’d like to Support our Ministry
Support can also be
Sent to
Messiah Ministries
109 Boysenberry Drive
Taylors SC 29687



THOUGHT: “When it looks like man has done his worst and everything is at an end, remember that God always has the last word—and His “Last Word” is His Son, Jesus Christ” (Hebrews 1:1–2). -W. Wiersbe

09/02/2026

"The will of God - nothing less, nothing more, nothing else." - F.E. Marsh

09/01/2026

Devotions
Steve Wagner
Messiah Ministries
Tuesday, September 1, 2026

“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.” –John 15:8


Happy first day of September to all you dear ones out there. I hope you week is off to a good start as we begin the last quarter of 2026. Our time is quickly passing by on this journey of life, and we none know the final day of our journey so, it is important that we who are believers in Christ live our lives faithfully for the glory of God before whom we will stand one day.


How Are You Living Your Dash?

My devotional today is somewhat personal, but I know several of you who read my devotionals share the same situation as we do. We are getting up in years, and our time for serving the Lord is getting short, humanly speaking. As the saying goes, “We have more days behind us than we have ahead of us.” That truth should motivate us to do what we can for the Lord each day He enables us to serve Him and others with charitable service.
I would like to share some thoughts with you today about “How Are You Living Your Dash?” Some of these thoughts I have used at funerals over the years, and I’m sure many of you have heard some of these things before, but we all need reminding from time to time of the truth found in the saying by Missionary C. T. Studd: “Only one life ‘twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last.”
A grave marker identifies the person in the grave and gives us the dates of their birth and their death. Some may even have a phrase engraved on it like “a beloved son,” “a beloved mother,” “a beloved husband,” or some other words that speak of the one in the grave. Ruth Bell Graham’s grave marker on the grounds of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina, has these words engraved on it: “End of Construction — Thank you for your patience.”
The dash on our grave marker between the date of our birth and the date of our death represents the entirety of the life we lived. What we do during the dash has eternal implications. None of us know how long we will live on this earth. God makes the decision about the time of our birth and the time of our death. However, we have a great deal to say about the things that happen during the dash in between those dates. Our decisions, choices, priorities, relationships with others and with God, how we use what God has given us including our God-given gifts and talents, and the number of days we have here in this life are all represented by the dash.
God has created each of us to glorify Him. We read in Revelation 4:11 that when the twenty-four elders prostrate themselves, worship the eternal God, and cast their crowns before the throne they acknowledge the Lord as worthy of glory and honor and power because He created all things, and by His will they exist, they will shout—“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” Imagine the crescendo in Heaven when the people of God along with the myriads of angels and every creature shout, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive, power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, ‘Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever’” (Revelation 5:12-13).
God’s Word tells us that we will not witness this glorious scene in Revelation and hear this glorious message unless our sins have been washed away by the precious blood of Jesus our Savior. You see, the most important decision you will ever make during your dash will be to hear and believe the good news of God’s grace through the death, burial, and resurrection of His only begotten Son—the Lord Jesus Christ and then to turn from your sin and receive His gift of eternal life by faith as you Christ as your Lord and Savior. If you have never done that, I would implore you to come to the Lord today while He is still calling whosoever will come to Him and receive His gift of eternal life, for none of us know the day our dash will end.
As believers in Christ, we are called to live our dash for God’s glory and bear fruit for Him. Our Lord told His disciples in John 15:8-11—“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love. 10 If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love; even as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” To do these things means we must spend time with Him in His Word and in prayer. We need to be alert to open doors for sharing our faith. Remember to pray for B.O.B.—Burden-Opportunity-Boldness. Let us walk in close fellowship with our Lord, submitting to the indwelling Holy Spirit’s control as He leads us in accordance to God’s Word and God’s will.
So, how are you living your dash?


I would like to close today by sharing a poem by Linda Ellis entitled “The Dash.” It reminds us about the important things in life. Remembe that the most important thing in the dash of your life is your faith relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ and knowing Him as your personal Lord and Savior. You aren’t prepared to live until you are prepared to die.

The Dash
by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
From the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years.

For that dash represents all the time
That they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own —
The cars, the house, the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left.
You could be at “dash mid-range.”

If we could slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect
And more often wear a smile,
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash,
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?


Until we meet again, KEEP SHINING FOR THE SAVIOR, KEEP SHARING HIS GOOD NEWS, AND KEEP WALKING IN SWEET FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM! MARANATHA!



THOUGHT: “If you share the life of God through faith in Jesus Christ, let that life reveal itself in the fruit you bear for His glory.” -With the Word (Ezekiel 15).

TODAY’S HUMOR:
😊 There aren’t enough days in the weekend.