Bethel Baptist Church

11/25/2024

There is power in name of Jesus!

Be blessed as you meditate on God's word and listen to this inspirational morning devotional prayer.📚Grace For Purpose Prayer Book available on Amazon: http...

11/25/2024

https://youtu.be/PcmqSfr1ENY

“I Speak Jesus” by Charity Gayle feat. Steven Musso (Live) | Written by Dustin Smith, Abby Benton, Carlene Prince, Jesse Reeves, Kristen Dutton, Raina Pratt ...

11/09/2024

In Jesus I am Received from YouVersion devotion “In Jesus You Are”

Read: Romans 15:7–9

SOAP: Romans 15:7

“Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God’s glory.”

As much as we all crave connection, a big part of our hearts also crave acceptance. An open door is nice, but a personal invitation and a seat saved for us at the table is better. When we feel accepted, we can come as we are, without the masks and without faking “fine.”

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he encouraged the believers to receive—or accept—one another, the way they had been accepted by Jesus. Jesus receives us into His family already knowing the worst things we’ve ever done, said, or thought. He knows our past, present, and future, and He still makes a place for us with Him in eternity.

The early Roman Christians were struggling to accept other believers who did things a little differently, like the food they ate or the special days they observed. It was in these gray areas that some believers were starting to consider themselves better than others, judging their choices and practices. Paul was very clear in his letter that the only thing that would come out of this type of behavior was division.

In Jesus, we are received fully and completely into the family of God. Our differences make up a beautiful tapestry that brings life to the gospel. We are uniquely created in the image and likeness of God to use our gifts and talents to bring glory to God and grow His kingdom. If we are accepted with open arms by God, who are we to pass judgement on one another?

We need one another, and our witness to the gospel is hindered when we compete with and judge other believers. In Jesus we are not only received, but called to receive, accept, and support one another with open hearts.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, even though I am a sinner who does not deserve Your love, You have chosen me and accepted me into Your family. Give me eyes to see those around me who do not know this acceptance so I can introduce them to You. Give me a heart to extend Your love without judgement. Amen.

10/03/2024

How to Tell If the Voice Is God’s, Not Satan’s by Charles Stanley

People often ask me, “When I listen for God to speak after I pray, I sometimes seem to hear two voices. How do I know if I’m hearing from God or Satan?”

This is a legitimate question because the enemy of our souls also attempts to speak to us. We know from Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness that Satan will try many tricks to convince us to listen to him instead of God (Matt. 4:1-11). The apostle Peter warned us that the devil is always on the prowl, seeking to instill fear and confusion (1 Pet. 5:8). We must be on the alert continually to make certain we’re hearing God’s voice as we pray and listen for God’s answer.

Peter had been a follower of Jesus from the beginning of His earthly ministry, yet he was likened to the arch-enemy himself. After Jesus told His disciples that in Jerusalem He’d suffer many things from the religious authorities, be killed, then raised from death on the third day, Peter took Jesus aside privately and said to Him, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You” (Matt. 16:22). As well-intentioned as Peter may have been, his words were not God’s but were lined up with Satan’s message. Jesus turned to Peter and rebuked Him saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matt. 16:23).

As we learn from the example of Peter above, sometimes Satan’s voice comes to us not in our thoughts and imaginations but through the words of other people—some of whom may seem to be well-intentioned. The Bible assures us there’s a way to tell Satan’s voice from that of our Lord. I believe that we’ll hear some distinct differences in the messages.

Satan Says

· Do your own thing; do what you want to do.

· Live for the moment.

· Don’t concern yourself with what others say.

· You’re as mature as you ever need to be. You’re an adult.

The Lord Jesus Says

· Consider the effects of your behavior on others. Live a selfless, giving life.

· Live with an eye on eternity.

· Receive godly counsel.

· Continue to grow and mature and to become more and more like Jesus Christ.

Certainly, the outcome is different for us when we follow Satan’s voice and message rather than the Lord’s. Satan’s path always leads to loss, destruction, and death. The Lord’s way always leads to abundant and eternal life (John 10:10).

As you continue to walk daily with the Father, meditating on His Word and seeking Him in prayer, you’ll grow in your ability to discern the voice of God and develop an ear to hear what He’s saying to you. You’ll come to know His voice unequivocally and immediately, for He is your Father, and He calls you by name.

07/08/2024

Present Your Requests to God by Max Lucado

In Luke 18:1–8, Jesus told a parable about a persistent widow who went before an unjust judge. The woman so pestered the judge that he finally agreed to her request just to get her to go away. Jesus ended the parable by saying, “Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?” (verse 8 NIV).

What are you to make of this parable? Is God a reluctant judge? Are you the marginalized widow? Is prayer a matter of pestering God until he breaks down and gives you what you want? No, this is a parable of contrast, not comparison. God is not like the judge in the story. He is not reluctant in answering the prayers of his people. As a child of the King, you can turn to him at any moment. He never places you on hold or tells you to call again later. God loves the sound of your voice. Always. He doesn’t hide when you call. He hears your prayers.

But why present your requests to him at all? What’s the purpose when he already knows what you are going to ask? Prayer is actually for your benefit. It allows you to act in faith on what you know about his character. When you pray in specific ways—for the particulars of your problems—and you see God respond in specific ways, your faith grows. You come to trust that God will always be there for you, even in the midst of the most anxiety-producing moments.

Prayer is simply a conversation with your heavenly Father. You place your anxieties in his hands and remind him—and yourself—of the promises he has made in his Word. You find a promise that fits your problem and build your prayer around it. These prayers of faith touch the heart of God and activate the angels of heaven. Miracles are set into motion. You experience less consternation; more supplication. Fewer anxious thoughts, more prayer-filled thoughts.

Thanksgiving is the means God uses to help you take the focus off yourself and onto him. Gratitude is a powerful weapon in the arsenal against anxiety because it leads you out of the land “if only” and into the realm of “already.” The anxious heart says, “Lord, if only I had this, that, or the other, I’d be okay.” The grateful heart says, “Lord, you’ve already given me this, that, and the other thing. Thank you for your blessings, God.”

Christ-based contentment will turn you into a strong person. It helps you realize that since no one can take your Christ, no one can take your joy. Failure can’t steal your joy, because Jesus is greater than your sin. Disappointments can’t steal your joy, because even though your plans may not work out, God’s plans always will. Not even death can steal your joy, because Jesus has even conquered death itself.

What you have in Christ is greater than anything you don’t have. You have God, who is crazy about you, and the forces of heaven to monitor and protect you. You have the living presence of Jesus within you. In Christ you have everything. So anchor your heart to the character of God. Treat each anxious thought with a grateful one, and prepare yourself for a new day of joy.

Respond

Do you ever feel like you are pestering God when you pray? How does knowing God is eager to hear from you affect your desire to talk to him?

What attitude do you tend to have when you pray? How would your prayers change if you focused on what God has already done in your life?

What anxious thoughts will you pray for specifically today? How will you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness in the past as you pray specifically for these needs?

06/22/2024

Watch Delight by Practicing the Way:

This Verse of the Day (VOTD) teaching clip video was provided by Practicing the Way and focuses on the Bible verse Hebrews 4:10. To learn more, please visit https://johnmarkcomer.com

05/26/2024

Faith is Not Denying Reality by Rick Warren

Faith is not denying reality. It’s not pretending you don’t have a problem. Faith is not saying, “I’m not in pain” when you are. It’s not saying, “I don’t hurt” when you do. It’s not saying, “I’m happy” when you’re really grieving inside. That’s not faith; it’s phoniness! Faith is facing the facts without being disheartened by them because you know God is greater than the problem.

There is a brand of Christianity today that basically says, “Deny all of your problems. Just have a positive confession. Name it and claim it.” That kind of thinking did not come from Jesus. That’s Pollyanna, and Pollyanna is not exactly a good theologian.

Faith is facing reality without being discouraged by it. You know that God can change a situation. You can build a family on faith, but you can’t build it on fantasy. You can build a business on faith, but not on fantasy. You can build a life on faith, but not on fantasy.

The key is to look beyond your circumstances: “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen [the problem] is temporary, but what is unseen [God’s power] is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV).

If you look at the world, you’re going to be distressed. There are problems everywhere! If you look within, you’re going to be depressed, because there are a lot of things that need changing in your life. But if you look at Jesus Christ, you’ll be at rest. It all depends on where you are focused.

Circumstances are like a mattress: Get on top, and you rest easy. Get underneath, and you suffocate. When you start looking at your problem, you’re sunk. But if you look at Jesus — if you look toward your Deliverer rather than the difficulty — you’ll make it.

05/08/2024

“Hallelujah, when the storm is relentless
Hallelujah, when the battle is endless
In the middle of the in between
In the middle of the questioning
Over every worry, every fear…
Hallelujah Even Here.”

Look, I know there are some valleys and storms that cannot be fixed by reading a five-day devotional. And that’s okay. We live in a broken world; and until the enemy is locked up for good, we are going to face trials. But if this week has taught you anything, I hope it’s the fact that you will never face those trials alone. God loves you more than you could fathom and He’s proven it. When the enemy tried to steal your life, Jesus stepped in and gave His instead. Because of that, our hope is eternal and our suffering is temporary. We can know “that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18), and that someday, our loving Father will wipe away every tear from our eyes (Revelation 21:4).

As you continue on your journey, I want to encourage you to look at David and how he handled suffering. This was the guy known as “a man after God’s own heart,” loved and blessed by God. But if you read his Psalms, you see him face some seriously dark seasons, including depression, doubt, failure, loss, etc.

What I love about him is that he knew where to run when those seasons came. He ran to His Father—sometimes crying, sometimes angry, sometimes confused, but more often than not, he ended his prayers by reminding himself of truth (even when he didn’t feel it) and choosing to put his trust in a God that he knew loved him...

In the days ahead, I encourage you to read Psalms and learn to cry out to God like David did. Grab a journal and write down who you know God to be and how He has been faithful in the past, and when you feel overwhelmed by what you see around you, look up. Miracles still happen when we fix our eyes on our Savior and lift our hands in the midst of the storm.

He is worthy of our Hallelujah… Even here.

With you and love you,

Lydia Laird

04/10/2024

For Things We Take For Granted by Amy Seiffert

Often people ask how I manage to be happy despite having no arms and no legs. The quick answer is that I have a choice. I can be angry about not having limbs, or I can be thankful that I have a purpose. I chose gratitude.

— Nick Vujicic

To me, a faith in Jesus Christ that is not aligned with the poor...it’s nothing.

— Bono, singer-songwriter and philanthropist

Everything I used and consumed and enjoyed before 8am this morning was a luxury.

I woke up and used indoor plumbing and running water and a clean toilet. I put on my workout shoes and clean, well-fitting clothes. I used electricity and ground coffee beans (let's be real, my husband did the making because I just CANNOT get it right) and enjoyed fresh coffee. I was in a warm home with a healthy body and a healthy husband and three healthy kiddos; in a home where love is the foundation for our marriage and our children.

Water. Plumbing. Shoes. Heat. Love. Clothing. Freedom. Health.

And that was just the start of my day.

Friends, today's reflection is not to get guilty; it is still to get grateful. It is to look at the grace and favor around us, near us, in our own homes - and to give thanks. And I believe that gratitude is the spark for other beautiful things: sharing, serving, loving, inviting, caring, sacrificing, empathizing, softening, reaching.

Gratitude is a heart posture that is open and humble and very tied to sharing and giving. We cannot possibly be grabby when we are grateful. We are hands open and heart open and lives open.

What if today, just today, we whispered Thank You for each thing we take for granted? Whispering "thank you for these" as we tie each shoe. Breathing "thank you for coffee" as we take a sip. Murmuring, "thank you for water" as I shower with clean, warm water running down my face.

And maybe we will look a little bit crazy, but wouldn't we rather be crazy and grateful than sane and entitled? Maybe that's just me. But I bet not. I've been in really good company with y'all.

Wherever you are reading this right now, you can see comfort around you, you can sense grace near you, you can see love surrounding you. Through everyday, concrete spoons and bread and shoes to abstract love and peace and joy. Richness is our reality and gratitude is our response.

Where are the places in our lives we complain the most? Breathe gratitude OVER them and we will breathe life INTO them. Grumbling leads us to dead ends; gratitude leads us to paths of life.

God, thank you for shoes. For heat. For water. For healthy lungs and hopeful hearts. Help our gratitude to overflow toward grace and good deeds. Free us of guilt and shame, and instead give us grace and joy and gratitude for what we have. Teach us to then use our freedom to bless others and extend our riches to others. Show us what it is you'd like us to be thankful for today. Show us what you'd like us to give to others. Show us those in need. Show us how to help from our abundance. Our abundance of treasures, of time, of talents. You are a good Father to all.

02/25/2024

Freedom to Fail by Bob Goff

The thing I love about God is He intentionally guides people into failure. He made us be born as little kids who can’t walk or talk or even use a bathroom correctly. We have to be taught everything. All that learning takes time, and He made us so we are dependent on Him, our parents, and each other. The whole thing is designed so we try again and again until we finally get it right. And the whole time He is endlessly patient.

I love those passages in Scripture where Jesus teaches the disciples something, saying, “I want to teach you to think differently about life.” They walked with Him for years, and some of them didn’t learn everything they needed to know until after He’d gone back to heaven. Yet, even though they were slow to learn, they still referred to themselves as His beloved. Failure is just part of the process, and it’s not just okay; it’s better than okay. God doesn’t want failure to shut us down. God didn’t make it a three-strikes-and-you’re-out sort of thing. It’s more about how God helps us dust ourselves off so that we can swing for the fences again. And all of this without keeping a meticulous record of our screw-ups.

Things that go wrong can shape us or scar us. I’ve had some things go well in my life and some things not go so well, just like you. More have gone well than have gone poorly, but I’m not trying to keep score because I have a different way I measure those things now. God finds us in our failures and our successes, and He says that while we used to think one way about things, now He wants us to think another way about those same things. And for me, I’ve realized that I used to be afraid of failing at the things that really mattered to me, but now I’m more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.

02/19/2024

Celebrate Your SHAPE by Rick Warren

God never wastes an experience. Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (NIV).

At Saddleback Church, we help people consider five areas of experience that will influence the kind of ministry they are best shaped for:

1. Educational experiences: What were your favorite subjects in school? 2. Vocational experiences: What jobs have you enjoyed and achieved results while doing? 3. Spiritual experiences: What have been the meaningful or decisive times with God in your life? 4. Ministry experiences: How have you served God in the past? 5. Painful experiences: What are the problems, hurts, and trials from which you’ve learned?

Your SHAPE was sovereignly determined by God for his purpose, so you shouldn’t resent it or reject it. “Who are you, my friend, to talk back to God? A clay pot does not ask the man who made it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ After all, the man who makes the pots has the right to use the clay as he wishes” (Romans 9:20-21a TEV).

Instead of trying to reshape ourselves to be like someone else, we should celebrate the SHAPE God has given each of us.

Understanding your SHAPE builds self-esteem. There’s an epidemic of low self-esteem in our society today. Most people do not like themselves. Studies have shown one reason is that more than 50 percent of all people are in the wrong jobs. I believe that genuine self-esteem — as opposed to pop psychological self-esteem — is built on two biblical truths. It’s not about raising yourself up by your bootstraps or thinking positively or the “I’m OK; you’re not so hot” philosophy. Genuine self-esteem is built on your relationship with Jesus and knowing what he created you for.

01/21/2024

The Sweetness of Patience
from YouVersion devotions

Have you ever plucked fruit prematurely?

Perhaps you were allured by its vibrant color and sweet scent moving through the air. But when you took the first bite, you realized it lacked the ripeness you anticipated. Everything seemed right at first glance, but there was one missing ingredient…

Time.

Even the simple act of picking fruit can teach us about time and patience:
"Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You, too, be patient and stand firm because the Lord's coming is near."
James 5:7-8

The author, James, penned these words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to a community of new Jewish converts to Christianity, dispersed throughout various regions. These early Christians faced many trials, including persecution and opposition, because of their newfound faith. James’ call to wait patiently and endure was more than mere words on a page; they were a lifeline of hope and encouragement in the midst of adversity.

And just as those early believers confronted trials, we, too, will encounter challenges and suffering in our Christian journey. And, just like those early believers, you can choose patience—allowing the fruit of the Spirit to ripen within you, no matter the season of life. And when you do, your character will mature, your faith will deepen, and your relationship with God will become sweeter than you could imagine. Patience always bears the fruit of perseverance and strength, even today and even for you!