Month: February 2020

A Rescued Saint in the Midst of Storm

by markjemilbooth, posted in Christian Biography, Christian Life, Christian Servants, God's Attributes, Prayer, Uncategorized

Do you ever have the feeling that you are sinking deeper and deeper into the sea of sin, doubt, despair, and discouragement? Do you feel that you are in the midst of a storm, and there is no end in sight? The Apostle Peter understood the storms of life. He also experienced sinking deeper and deeper into the sea. Let’s join Peter and see how he handled his sinking deeper and deeper into the sea.

The disciples are in a boat in the midst of a storm. Jesus comes to them, walking upon the water. He tells them: “Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid. (Matthew 14:27)  Jesus always desires to calm our fears. He comes to us out of love and compassion. Jesus arrives in the powerful storm that caused such panic in the disciples.

Peter was taking an opportunity to demonstrate faith asked if he also could walk on water. Jesus answers with one word: “Come.” Jesus wants us to join him in the adventure of faith. However, Peter’s faith disappears in light of waves coming upon him. He must cry out immediately, “Lord, save me.”

We can describe Peter’s cry in three ways:

1. It was a desperate cry. Peter knows that death is near. He has only one hope. Likewise, God is waiting for our call of desperation to Him. The Psalmist wrote: “This poor man CRIED and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.”  (Psalm 34:6)

2. It was a cry of faith. Peter calls out to the Lord in faith. He knows that the Lord alone can save him from sinking to the depths of the sea. Faith believes that the Lord hears our cries and that he will respond. “I sought the Lord, and he heard me.” (Psalm 34:4)

3. It was a cry based on his knowledge of Christ. Peter knows that the Lord can save him. He knows that the Lord is all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-loving. As we know the Lord intimately, we can cry out to him with greater confidence and freedom.

The Deliverance by the Loving Lord

Jesus hears Peter’s desperate cry, and he immediately responds: “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they entered into the ship, the wind ceased.” (Matthew 14:31-32)

Yes, there will be times when we seem to be sinking deeper and deeper. All hope seems lost, but Our Lord is waiting for us to cry out to Him. His hand is always ready to pull us out of the storm.

“Dear Lord, there are many times that we seem to sink deeper and deeper into sin, despair, or discouragement. Our circumstances seem too difficult to bear. Please help us to learn to cry out to you in the times when We are sinking. Thank you for always being ready and willing to pull me up from whatever is causing me to sink. Amen.”

Breaking Fear’s Domination

by markjemilbooth, posted in Bible Study, Christian Life, Christian Worship, Uncategorized

Fear comes in many forms, but it still has the same effect. Our fears can dominate us spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and even physically. As our fears increase, our faith in God decreases. We lose confidence in His promises, presence, and power. Fear keeps us from enjoying our daily walk with God and others.

Isaiah 41:10 gives us four great promises from God that enable us to conquer whatever fear is crippling our lives. “Fear thou not; for 1) I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:2) I will strengthen thee; yea, 3) I will help thee; yea,4) I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” 

1. When I am lonely, God promises his presence. He will never leave me. How can I be afraid if I know that my loving Father is with me? He is with me to bring comfort, wisdom, strength, and grace. What we cannot handle alone, can is there with us.

2. When I am weak and feel like quitting, God will strengthen me. How can I be fearful when I remember that: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)? He will give me His strength to bear whatever comes into my life.

3. When I need spiritual, emotional, or physical help, God will help

How can I be afraid when God’s ability overcomes my inability? The Lord is right there with me. He is my help, no matter how fearful and difficult the future is.

4. When I stumble or fall, God will pick me up.

How can I be fearful when I know that God will pick me up when I fall or stumble? When Peter sinned, stumbled, and fell, Jesus picked him up and restored him. Our fear of failure often keeps us from moving forward in our spiritual lives. This promise assures us that when we stumble, God is right there to keep us going.

“Lord, help me to believe your promises. May I know that you are greater than any fear that is dominating my life. Thank you for your presence and power that conquer my fears. Amen”

Note: A special thanks to Karla Da Silva for the photo. The photo is of Waterfall Gully in South Australia.

Am I Prepared to Meet God on Sunday?

by markjemilbooth, posted in Christian Life, Christian Worship, Family Life, Uncategorized
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24) A worship service in a small village in Romania

You are in church on a Sunday morning, have you ever found yourself

1. wishing that you weren’t in church?

2. thinking about the week ahead during the message?

3. fighting off sleep?

4. making negative mental notes about the people in the service?

5. singing and not paying attention to the words or our hearts?

6. picking apart the sermon?

7. forgetting the message by the time you eat Sunday dinner?

What is the problem with our time of worship on Sunday morning? Could it be that we arrive unprepared to worship God? How can we have prepared hearts to worship the Living God?

Look unto God in preparation to worship Him.

Do I study and meditate upon His Word during the week? How can we expect to receive something from the Word of God during the worship service if we are not bathing our hearts in the Word of God during the week? “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:97) Our love for the Word during the week will be evident in our response to the Word on Sunday.

Do I seek the Lord in prayer during the week as I prepare to worship Him?  We should pray with the Psalmist. “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” (Psalm 119:18)

Do I desire to glorify God as I worship Him? O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His name together.” (Psalm 34:3) The worship service is to bring glory to God above all. Have we fallen into the trap of looking for a blessing instead of seeking to glorify God?

 Look at Yourself in Preparation to Worship God

1. Do I have the right attitude about attending the worship service of the church? Our attitude determines the richness of our worship experience. If we arrive at the worship service with a negative attitude, our time of worship will be a negative experience. The Psalmist says: “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. “(Psalm 122:1)

.2. Do I have the right relationship with God as I attend the worship service? Sin will keep us from having an encouraging, joyful worship experience with God. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” (James 4:8) We make sure our outer person is clean before we attend the worship service, but what about our hearts?

3. Do I have the right understanding of the need to attend the Sunday morning worship service?  We can attend a worship service and quietly wonder why we are here. God says: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) The worship service is not only to bring glory to God but also to minister to each other.

Look at others in preparation to worship God.

1. Do I have the right relationship with those around me? Jesus taught that you couldn’t come before God’s altar and offer your gift if you have a problem with others. (Matthew 5:23-26) How can we worship God on Sunday, when we have unresolved conflict in our family or our church family?

2. Do I see the opportunities of ministry within my family and my church family? God has given every believer a spiritual gift. We are to use our gift within His Body (Romans 12:3-8). These gifts are not for our benefit but the benefit of others.

 Worship means to give worth to His name. The Sunday morning worship service can be a negative, tedious experience, or it can be a time of enjoying and honoring the presence of the Living God. The choice is ours. Next Sunday, will we come to worship Him with a prepared, and surrendered heart? Will our worship be worthy of our great and mighty God?