Daily Devotional - Open Door Fellowship Baptist Church

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.

October 24th, 2017

10/24/2017

Ephesians 3:20 - “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us”
Freedom! Give me freedom to worship and enjoy Jesus without someone telling me what to wear to church or how to worship. Freedom to serve without someone telling me how to serve or what to say. When Jesus is in your heart, HE will lead you to do the right thing.
To be found in Jesus, Paul says, is worth more than all of his religio...n, race, and ritual. It is a relationship with the Almighty God. It is Jesus. Paul says, “I’m tired of trying. I’m going to start trusting.” Basically, Paul lived a life of working his way to heaven before he met the Lord on the road to Damascus (see Acts 9). Legalism is a terrible thing. It is a harsh task master under which no one can succeed. Liberty, not legalism, is what the Lord Jesus Christ offers — freedom, not bondage; relationship, not religion. We give up nothing for which Jesus will not abundantly offer more than we could ever hope or dream.

October 19th, 2017

10/19/2017

“Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.” Psalm 116:7
Do you know someone who constantly anticipates problems or sickness or worrying about what has not happened yet? I came across this article the other day.... "A woman woke up her husband from a sound sleep because she thought she heard a burglar downstairs. He went down with a pistol and a flashlight and was shining it around. Sure enough, there was a burglar in their home. He said,... “Hold it right there. I’ve got a gun on you.... He picked up the phone and dialed the police. “And another thing,” he said, “Before you go, I want my wife to come down here and meet you. She’s been looking for you for 24 years.”
A lot of people are that way. They borrow trouble by anticipating or worrying about what may happen. What you need to do is stop looking to yesterday in guilt or anticipating tomorrow with anxiety, and do this... Simply rest in the day the Lord has given you today. Tomorrow may or may-not be a concern for you....

October 16th, 2017

10/16/2017

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for as much as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
One of my pet peeves is, doing something that will eventually be in vain. Have you ever been there? Trying your best and seeing it turn out all wrong? Why not stand for what is right; and will always be right.
Where are the courageous children of God who will speak on their Father’s behalf—speak of His Truth, His mercy, His love? Psalm 119:46 says, “I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.”
There is a saying in this country: “What’s down in the well will always come up in the bucket.”
What happens when you are up against a wall? Do you back down and deny your faith? Or do you stand firm despite the verbal assault on your beliefs?
1 Peter 3:14-17 has the prescription for a fearful heart: “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.”
When I read this verse, it reminded me of the book I finished reading last week. I believe every Christian should read "The Hiding Place" by Corrie Ten Boom. It will change the way you think about who you are in Christ Jesus.

October 13th, 2017

10/13/2017

“But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:24
Do you need a counselor sometimes? People come to pastors and counselors for wisdom. We can counsel from Scripture, but we can’t solve their problems. We can try to lead them to the One who can solve their problems, the Lord Jesus Christ. I don’t want them dependent upon me. I want them to know Jesus. He is the Counselor. There is wisdom in His name.... “He is made unto us,” Paul says in 1 Corinthians1:30, “wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”
Are you going through a problem right now? You don’t know the way out. You don’t know what to do. Every answer seems wrong. I want to recommend my counselor to you. Call upon the true Counselor. His name is Jesus. Not only is there wonder in His name. Friend, there is wisdom in His name.

October 10th, 2017

10/10/2017

Grace! A good name for a baby girl - A good name for a princess - A wonderful gift from God above. Grace "He gives when our burdens are heavy". Sufficant Grace "He multiplies when our load of burden increases". Strength - "God gives us when we can't go on in this life of pressures". Mercy! "He adds to multiplied trials". Do we as a sinful bunch of people deserve this? No, but God loves us unconditionally.

October 09th, 2017

10/9/2017

Do you believe in miracles? Do you believe that God gives miracles to all who ask for them? An old preacher once said that "Too many people expect miracles to be like greeting cards - one for every occasion." Maybe he is right. Should our heart be right with God before we ask for a miracle? Maybe so..

October 06th, 2017

10/6/2017

“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” 1 John 5:18
Have you ever wondered why the devil couldn’t get to Jesus in the midst of a 40-day fast when He was starving? He was already satisfied. You see, Jesus didn’t have an itch that the devil could scratch. Temptation really comes down to this: A temptation is when evil, and evil knows all about tempting, can induce a desire that ca...n only be satisfied in an illegitimate way. That’s all there is to it.
The devil also likes to play this game: God gives a desire to us to follow HIS SON and the devil wants to satisfy it in a God-forbidden way. The devil says, “Hey you’ve got a need, to satisfy God, and I can help you satisfy it.” Oh how many has the devil deceived, and we think God is being glorified. Deception is when we feel good about what we have done. We get a "Look at Me" attitude.
When tempted, you are given a choice. Do you get that need satisfied by the devil, or by the Lord? You see, the devil is a pervert. He has no raw material. All he can do is take what God has created and pervert it. Do you want to overcome temptation? Find out the legitimate way to satisfy that desire, and then you will not need the illegitimate way.