Daily Devotional - Open Door Fellowship Baptist Church

December 05th, 2018

12/5/2018

So often these days we see Christmas with the 'Christ' taken out and replaced with an 'X'. It's almost as if it's a nameless celebration. We as Christians know how far from the truth that is. We read here of angels appearing to the shepherds and declaring the birth of Jesus, the Son of David - who is the Christ (the Messiah). It is in no way a 'nameless' event, but a wonderful celebration of the greatest event - the birth of Christ and the reconciliation to God He brought to us all.
So let's keep the 'Christ' in Christmas.
Christmas must always start with Christ
For He has saved us and changed our lives.

November 21st, 2018

11/21/2018

It is the night before Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a national holiday in the United States. In 1621, the colonists and Wapanoag Indiana shared a harvest celebration and in 1863 in the midst of the Civil War, President Lincoln proclaimed it a national holiday to be held each November. President Roosevelt sign a bill in 1941 stating Thanksgiving would be the 4th Thursday of November each year. This is just a brief history of this holiday that some cherish and many take for granted.

We, as Christians do the same with many things in our life. We take so many things for granted as we trudge along in our daily grind. As we get up tomorrow and prepare for our own feast, take time to thank God for what we have - our salvation, a nice warm building where we can gather and worship, our families and friends and the means and ability to prepare the feast we are about to enjoy.

From all of us here at Open Door Fellowship, Happy Thanksgiving! Enjoy the day, hug your family and friends and don't forget to tell them how much they are loved - not just by you but by God.

Blessings to all of you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

October 17th, 2018

10/17/2018

On September 23, 2018, Pastor Coffey gave his last sermon as the pastor of Open Door Fellowship. We were extremely sad to see him leave but when God calls us to a new mission, it is our responsibility to answer that call. That is what Pastor Carl and Carol have done. They have answered God's call.

Open Door Fellowship is still alive and well and we are still continuing God's work in our little church on the corner. Please feel free to join us in worship or bible study. We have a great supply of area pastors that are filling our pulpit and bringing the Word of God weekly while we search for our new pastor. Watch for updates here on our website.

God Bless

September 17th, 2018

9/17/2018

“For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20.
There is one question ask of me more than any other, when it comes to God and salvation. The question is: " Do I have to go to church to be saved? Well friend, I wasn't saved in a church house, I was saved in my car... But all I could think about after my salvation was going to church; going to bible study; being with all the other Christians.
Friend there is something wonderful about unity. I heard about a fellow who courted a girl by writing her a beautiful love letter every day for two years. He thought that would be a wonderful way to court her and win her over to me. Do you know what happened? She married the mail man!
There is nothing like being there. There is nothing like personal contact. There is a sense in which Jesus Christ is present when His people gather that’s not in any other sense. You cannot get that same communion at home.
So, I ask you, Do you have a church home? If not, I encourage you to find one today. If church attendance isn’t important, I wonder why Satan works so hard to keep folks away. If you do have a church home, make a special effort this week to meet a new friend and find a need they have which you can meet.

September 14th, 2018

9/14/2018

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
A nobleman’s son became ill, so he sought Jesus to heal him. When he found Jesus, he asked Him to come to his home. But instead of physically going to the boy’s bedside, Jesus healed him by His word. John 4:50b says, “And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.” Not a wonder, not a sign, not a vision, not angels playing tic-tac-toe on his ribs, or cold chills going up and down his spine…the man believed Jesus’ Word and went on his way. Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible. Doubt sees the obstacles; faith sees the way. Doubt sees the darkest night; faith sees the day. Doubt dreads to take a step; faith soars on high. Doubt questions who believes; faith answers, “I”! Life follows faith like night follows day. There is no life without faith.

September 12th, 2018

9/12/2018

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
I read some research by psychologist William Morriston who reported that 94% of the 3,000 persons he surveyed were enduring today in order to get to tomorrow. Do you know anyone like that? Perhaps you are one of those. Tomorrow, you’re going on vacation. Tomorrow, you’re going to get the house cleaned. Tomorrow, you’re going to start your diet. Tomorrow, you’re going to balance your checkbook. Tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. The only problem is…tomorrow never arrives. When it gets here, it is today. And today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

September 11th, 2018

9/11/2018

Saying "yes" is not always what we need to hear. Let's never forget that some of God's greatest mercies are His refusals. He says no in order that He nay, in some way we cannot imagine, say yes. All His ways with us are merciful and His meaning is always Love.

September 10th, 2018

9/10/2018

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.” 1 John 3:1
You are rich! Jesus became the Son of Man that we might become sons and daughters of God. We are saved because of the grace of Christmas. That is not rhetoric—that is reality! I knew a little boy once who had a big imagination. He would always blow an idea or dream out of measure. So, when the little boy was talking about God's giving us eternal security to a friend, he said to his friend, “I am held in His hand.” And the friend responded, “What if you slip through His hands?” Oh!! "I forgot to tell you,” the boy replied, “I’m one of His fingers.” Wasn't that good? Do you ever imagine our Heavenly Father being your Father? Does your imagination run wild with that? Knowing I'm a child of God justs blows my mind. Friend, you are rich, in the Lord. HE has everthing. HE gives us it all, IF we give ourselves to HIM. Have you gave yourself to HIM? Is heaven your desination on the Word of God, or do you hope heaven is your home. The bible says, we should "know that we know". I know I am saved and on my way to heaven, I pray that you know your condition also.
Amidst all the materialism that sometimes chokes out the true meaning of Christmas, take some time to share this Good News with someone today. Let someone know that you are a child of the most high God.

December 22nd, 2017

12/22/2017

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
People join churches today with wrong expectations. They think c...hurch membership guarantees blessings and no burdens. Some think that God is just a heavenly cafeteria. And if it doesn’t work out as they wish, they say, “Well, it’s not paying off! I thought if I gave my heart to Jesus, then He would supply everything I want. And I’d have no more worries.” People fall away because their expectations are not met. Let me tell you what real faith is. Real faith is not just receiving from God the things you want. Real faith is accepting from God the things He gives.
How are your spiritual eyeglasses? Are you looking at life with the eyes of the Lord? And trusting that He will provide, not necessarily what you want, but what you need?

November 29th, 2017

11/29/2017

“Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14.

Has Christmas become just another day to by gift's? Has Christmas become just another day of stress, debt, cooking and decorations? My how we recognize special Christian days with retail thinking. Here is where I think we have come too in life. The educated man is ignorant, the strong man is weak, and the wealthy man is poor who doesn’t understand the true meaning of Christmas. What good does it do us to put a man on the moon if we can’t get God in our hearts? What good is it to know astronomy, how the heavens go, and not know Jesus, the Bright and Morning Star, and how to go to Heaven? What good is it to know botany and the study of flowers and not know Jesus, Heaven’s sweetest rose, the Rose of Sharon, who can perfume any life? What good is it to know the events of history, yet not know that history is His story? What good is it to know geology and the ages of rocks and not know Jesus, the Rock of Ages? The Bible says “For it is in Him we live and move and have our being.”

Jesus was not just another child. He was not just the Galilean peasant, the great teacher. He was supernatural. You won’t understand Christmas until you understand that this child was born of a virgin. This child is the very Son of God. Never forget this. Read the words of Isaiah 9:6-7. Let his prophecy about this child speak to you today.