Faith Bible Baptist Church

06/04/2026

FBBC Devotional for Thursday, June 4, 2026: "Being Still"

Be still, and know that I am God... – Psalm 46:10

I have always admired hunters and fishermen. I cast a line many times with my boys when they were younger but quickly realized within my heart that they were going to need to learn these skills from someone other than their dear old dad. I am adept at neither sport because I intrinsically lack a requisite amount of the fundamental characteristic required to bag a deer or catch a fish. I simply do not have the patience to wait in one place long enough to be rewarded.

But being still and patient is not just part of triumphant outdoorsmanship. It is a vital spiritual discipline. And unlike hunting or fishing, it is not optional in the Christian walk. Life is going to inevitably bring us to a set of circumstances where we will have to exercise one of two diametrically opposed options – to impatiently move forward, imposing our own will and initiative, or to be still and wait for God. The Lord often permits us to flail in the former and less logical choice for some time, but He will invariably bring us to a place where we will be so spiritually exhausted that we can do nothing but stop and remember Who holds us. It is here in this stillness where earth and heaven meet. Like the children of Israel on the shore of the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s hordes fast approaching, we will find ourselves in a place where no matter what course of self-directed action we take, it will lead to our demise. We will need to remember at that moment that if we simply stand still, we will see the salvation of the Lord. The only pathway of deliverance is to know that He is God. It is not an initiative of mind or body or will – but simply of faith. Faith that God Himself sees us. Faith that He knows our peril. Faith that He who has been with us before will be with us now. Faith that in human terms, all help has passed and all hope is lost – but that God is still God. It is in this moment of internal quietude where the Master will prove Himself faithful to His beloved.

You may be facing a storm. Financial distress, physical disease, personal loss, concern for loved ones, and such like tempests have claimed many a sailor and may be now targeting your frail bark. You are wishing for former days and smoother waters, toiling to get back to them. But your best efforts will be to no avail. This trouble is here, and it is gathering strength. Stop wishing, hoping, pushing, fighting. Be still. The One who loved you enough to purchase at Calvary has not forgotten you. You know that He is God. Permit your heart to remember what that means. The Lord of Hosts is with you. The God of Jacob your refuge. Selah. – D. Murcek

06/03/2026

https://www.laniganfuneralhome.com/obituary/CynthiaAnne-LaPietra

Celebrate the life of Cynthia Anne LaPietra and join others in sharing memories, stories, and condolences.

06/03/2026

FBBC Devotional for June 2, 2026: With Him (resend)

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Revelation 17:14

The Lord of lords and King of kings by His very person and nature shall overcome all that might attempt to come against Him. But His glory is magnified also in that he does so not alone, but with them that are with Him. There is no better place to be than to be with Him. In His earthly ministry, Jesus chose twelve to be with Him (Mark 3:14). After his miraculous delivery, the maniac of Gadara requested of Jesus that he might be with Him (Mark 5:18). In the upper room, Jesus promised His disciples that He would come again to receive them to Himself so that they would be “where I am.” Shortly after that Jesus prayed to the Father that, as He would be restored to His glory with the Father, his disciples would also “be with me where I am.” Even in the epistles, Paul reminds the Colossians that they are buried with Him, risen with Him, and have been quickened (made alive) with Him through His forgiveness (Col. 2:12-13). He later tells them that, since He is our life, when He shall appear they shall also appear with Him in glory. And so we see in our text, as Jesus returns in that day to overcome His worldly enemies, who still dare to make war with Him, they that are with Him continue to enjoy the glory and victory of their Lord and King. All of this is based on His power to cleanse from all unrighteousness and declare them to be called, chosen, and faithful. These describe the position and privilege of those who were made by Him and for Him, and have become the recipients of His grace by faith.

06/02/2026

FBBC Devotional for June 2, 2026: "With Him"

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Revelation 17:14

The Lord of lords and King of kings by His very person and nature shall overcome all that might attempt to come against Him. But His glory is magnified also in that he does so not alone, but with them that are with Him. There is no better place to be than to be with Him. In His earthly ministry, Jesus chose twelve to be with Him (Mark 3:14). After his miraculous delivery, the maniac of Gadara requested of Jesus that he might be with Him (Mark

05/28/2026

FBBC Devotional for Thursday, May 28, 2026: "The Well"

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. – John 4:14

Wells are interesting things. They are deep, abiding, flowing, and often springing unseen reservoirs of life-giving water. What is intriguing is that these vivifying repositories require effort to access their life-sustaining contents. In biblical times (and in under-developed regions even today), well water needed to be drawn with cord and bucket. Today, many wells are continuously tapped by a well-pump, which is nothing more than an automated drawing process. The abiding principle of well-access is that once discovered and tapped, it needs continually returned to, time and again, in order to provide benefit to those in need of its contents.

Christ left us a spiritual Well within us. His life-giving Spirit abides deep in the recesses of our immortal souls. That Spirit moves and stirs, deeply imbedded underneath our corporeal being and fleshly nature, pooling vast amounts of eternal force and power. When life begins to face us with a myriad of challenges, we are reminded that we cannot possibly do this in our own weakened state. We need to draw spiritual strength that is foreign to this world and to our fallen nature. We must go to the Well.

At the Well, we will find strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. There we will be able to renew our strength and mount up on wings as eagles. Drawing from this river of water of life deep within, we can cup our hands and drink. These necessary moments at the Well will refresh our perspective, restoring our energy to fight the good fight of faith and reviving our spirits to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Dear friend, are you weary and heavy laden today? Come to the Well. Do you feel as though you cannot do this any longer? Come to the Well. Are you discouraged, downtrodden, or losing hope? The Well has not run dry. You have simply forgotten to draw. You must confess your need in faith that this Well is exactly where your Lord said it is and providing exactly the contents He described. It is a Well of everlasting water springing up, established by your Lord Himself in order to re-invigorate your embattled soul, refresh your war-weary heart, and re-power you to fulfill your purpose until you arrive Home.

Come. Come. Come to the Well. – D. Murcek

05/26/2026

FBBC Devotional for May 26, 2026: "Commensurate response"

And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Joshua 5:14-15

Joshua had been encouraged by the report of the men that spied on Jericho, and he subsequently led Israel across the Jordan, which the LORD miraculously dried up, in anticipation of conquest. This chapter begins describing the reaction of the land’s inhabitants to this event, that their “hearts melted,” echoing what Rahab had told the spies. After celebrating Passover on the west side of Jordan, partaking of the fruit of the land, and seeing the manna cease after that, Joshua was no doubt passing through this time of transition with some amount of wonder. Then, after evidently performing some forward observation, when he was by Jericho, he faced the man standing with a sword drawn in his hand. As Joshua approached and questioned him about his allegiance, this answer in our text completely reoriented Joshua’s perspective.

We are not told directly how the LORD had communicated with Joshua previous to this. Previous passages indicated that it would be through the high priest. But Joshua’s response here seems to reveal that this was a new experience. His response also indicates his perception that this was more than a mere man. Until now, Joshua may have assumed himself to be the captain of the LORD’s army (host), but here he recognized perhaps an unseen heavenly host headed by this heavenly captain. His posture of worship, and the captain’s response, leads us to conclude this to be a Christophany, since the worship is not denied, and the direction is parallel to the LORD’s previous encounter with Moses at the burning bush. With this understanding, the leader Joshua immediately assumes the position of servant, in need of direction from his lord. He no longer needed to strategize for the battle. He simply needed the LORD’s direction, and he was ready to receive it in his unshod condition. It is quite probable that the directions recorded in the next chapter for the conquest of Jericho came during this encounter.

With Joshua, we should be sensitive in our experience to recognize and desire direction from Him who is far greater than ourselves. While we may see the need to understand and strategize to accomplish our tasks and aims in this life, and in the LORD’s work, we must always be on the lookout for direction from the Captain of the LORD’s host. His Holy Spirit provides such direction through the application of His word. As we approach each day, decision, or circumstance, let us also, with His word before us, fall down in worship and request, What saith my lord unto his servant?

05/25/2026

FBBC Devotional for Monday, May 25, 2026: "Avoiding Kenodoxia"

Let nothing be done through strife of vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Philippians 2:3

Today’s text speaks of not doing something through vainglory. The Greek word for vainglory is kenodoxia which in Strong’s lexicon is defined as empty glorying that is self- conceit, and is found only once in the Bible in this verse from Philippians. The devil certainly knows how to take advantage of the pride that resides within our fallen nature. If we are not vigilant, we can slip into serving God with wrong and self-promoting motives.

So, why do we do what we do? Some things that we do are necessary for maintaining our earthly existence. We must eat, sleep, and exercise some form of labor whether for employment or for daily necessities. Hobbies and recreational activities are done because of personal interest and a certain level of satisfaction that they bring. But why do we do spiritual activities? Why do we go to church? Why do we read the Bible or why pray? Why do we participate in any spiritual activity? Certainly, love for God, gratitude, and obedience to Him should be at the root of our Christian living. The Apostle Paul uses kenodoxia or vainglory here as a warning about anything done through vainglory. At the time of our conversion, we became new creatures in Christ, and though many of the old things of our life passed away, the old nature tenaciously clings to us. If we are not vigilant, vainglory can easily be the motive behind what we do as Christians. Our Lord Jesus set the perfect earthly example of a life of humility by making himself of no reputation while always seeking the will of the Father and His glory. If vainglory is the subtle motive behind what we do, then our service to God is half-hearted. Bible reading will become less productive in feeding and energizing our souls. Our testimony and how we present the gospel message will have less impact because it is not purposed with full glory to the Lord. If we seek recognition from men, we may presently receive it, but the better and eternal praise from God is waiting on the other side of this life.

The sanctification process of crucifying our old nature will continue throughout our Christian journey. Learning to recognize vainglory when it rises to the surface can help us to avoid it. May the Holy Spirit enable us to put to death our vainglory, so that we may truly commit ourselves to live for the glory of God.

J. Ekis

05/22/2026

FBBC Devotional for May 22, 2026: "Beware the Belly God"

Philippians 3:19: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.

II Timothy 3:2: For men shall be lovers of their own selves,

The Christian life begins with the death of self. Jesus said “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”. But self is a stubborn, hydra-headed foe and though we may have victory in many areas of our lives, there always remains a vestige of ego to defeat. Death to self is a daily necessity. As the apostle once laconically noted “I die daily”.

When Eve was confronted with the option to be content with what God had provided or to eat of the forbidden fruit that was deceivingly purported to “make one wise”, she made the choice that she thought would be in her best self-interest.

All of her children are predisposed to make similar evil choices.The modern ethic is embodied in the phrase ”I have to do what is best for me”. Self-help gurus and so-called preachers have dispensed this psychological tripe to the itching ears of a waiting multitude that would prefer having their bloated egos pampered than to taking up the cross.

The Belly God can be seen as a metaphor for all the self-centered lusts of the flesh; and be sure there are a host of such lusts to be vanquished. When one yields his will to God, the Belly God will be cast out and in its place the Lord promised that “out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.But this spake he of the Spirit”. So then, let us be about smashing down this idol with the zeal of an iconoclast.Let us fulfill that ancient imperative of Romans 13:14: But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Have a blessed day,

Pastor

05/21/2026

FBBC Devotional for Thursday, May 21, 2026: "My Lord and My God"
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. – John 20:28

It had been almost two weeks since Jesus’ death at Calvary, and eight days since the buzz began. For whatever reason, Thomas was not with the others. Yet for the past week, they had been excitedly chattering about seeing Jesus – alive. Perhaps he wanted to believe it. But how could he? He had been there in Gethsemane and watched at Golgotha. He knew what he heard. He knew what he saw. So how was he to receive this news? Suspend his reason? Even if he wanted to do so, how could he? Jesus’ gasps for air from the cross were unforgettable. His blood soaked, swollen countenance was haunting. The limp and lifeless co**se they had taken down and entombed decimated all hope. Surely, the others were in shock with the unspeakable grief. But Thomas could not bring himself to such a place, no. Finally, he had had enough. His friends needed someone to be level-headed and realistic. “Unless I see [with these eyes] the print of the nails, and thrust [this] my hand into his side, I will not believe.” It was a harsh statement, but he probably felt they needed to hear it. This had gone on long enough. Lines needed drawn. Things needed to settle. They need to move on – in hopelessness and sorrow.

Again, for whatever reason, they gathered. Thomas came this time. The Lord appeared. Thomas must have been as white as a ghost and trembling when Jesus fixed His gaze upon him. Did He know what he had said? Did He see his unbelief? Of course, He knew it all. He had always known it all. In that moment, when faith began to be restored in Thomas’ heart, Jesus spoke directly to him. “Reach hither thy finger…reach hither thy hand…” We assume since it is not recorded that Thomas no longer needed his proof and did not take Christ up on the invitation. His presence and His word was quite enough. With his faith restored, all that was left to do was fall at His feet and worship. “My Lord and my God”.

Where is our faith today? Are we alive in the reality of our risen Lord like the other disciples, or have we lost a step with Thomas? Are we frustrated that others seem to be hearing from God, but we are not? Are we overwhelmed by our reason in our present circumstance such that our faith is being suffocated? Can our hearts only recall the darkness of recent happenings to the exclusion of the frequent brilliance of our Lord’s presence in our lives and His long-standing history of faithfulness to us?

We must stop everything and assemble with the saints. Where two or three are gathered, He has promised to be in the midst of them. It is often in the assembly where faith is re-kindled and we can hear His voice again. It will be all the proof necessary to our faltering hearts, reviving our souls and reminding us of the faithfulness of our Lord and our God.

He has been waiting to speak to us but will not do so until our faith begins to rise. Let us make haste to Him. – D. Murcek

05/19/2026

FBBC Devotional for May 19, 2026: "Spiritual preparation"'

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

As the apostle describes, in this familiar passage, the whole armor of God that every Christian should put on to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, he interjects in this verse the reason that we need such spiritual protections. The enemy of our life is also the enemy of our soul, and while some or many of his attacks may influence outward or physical circumstances and situations of life, the vast majority occur or originate in the spiritual realm. Since our human existence seems to be dominated by the material, we are in danger of neglecting or overlooking the spiritual aspects. Jesus addressed the material needs when He said not to worry about what we shall eat or drink or wear, because our heavenly Father knows and will provide for these needs (Matthew 6:31-33). This does not mean that we should not work for a living to provide for our households, but that, even while we do so, our focus should be on the kingdom of God and His righteousness. With that focus, we will understand that our more pressing needs are for His provision in the spiritual realm.

Principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places are not foes that we can wrestle with human strength, ingenuity, or prowess. As he describes, we need the whole armor of God, that is, every piece described, for this daily battle, just to stand our spiritual ground. John in his first epistle reinforces the danger of the spiritual influence of the world system (kosmos in Greek), which is ultimately controlled by the prince of the power of the air (Satan). Thus, we are not to love that world, but to overcome its evil influences through faith (I John 2:15; 5:4). This corresponds to Paul’s exhortation to, above all, take the shield of faith, to be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. Such faith, along with all the other aspects of spiritual armor described, taps the power of the Lord’s might.



May we today and every day arise and reach for the armor of God, even before the coffee or whatever else our flesh may convince us that we need, that we may be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, and ready for the battle.