Pleasant Garden Baptist Church Podcast (Sermons)

Testimonies and message from the Baptist Children's Homes on NC

Devotional by Pastor Robert

Pastors Robert, Larry, and Marty share the vision for our Discipleship Ministry. 

The Healthy Church 

Ephesians 4:11-16 

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 

16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.   

---

1. The healthy church recognizes and honors various gifts (4:11). 

2. The healthy church expresses different gifts to develop spiritual maturity (4:12-14). 

   **Spiritual Maturity (Eph. 4:14)**

      - not childlike but Christlike

      - not easily swayed but stable 

      - not easily deceived but certain 

3. Love in Christ must be the bloodline for the healthy church (4:15-16).

Wednesday Evening Service - Jeff Laing

“The Healthy Believer”

Colossians 1:27-29

27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 

28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 

29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

---

1.    If I’m healthy, I’ll focus on Jesus (1:27-28).

2.    If I’m healthy, I’ll mature in Jesus (1:28).

   •    Are you in worship?

   •    Are you in a Connect class?

   •    Are you in a d-group?

   •    Are you serving somewhere at PGBC?

3.    If I’m healthy, I’ll be empowered by Jesus (1:29).

Jesus on Prayer

Matthew 6:9-15  (ESV)

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name 

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

11 Give us this day our daily bread, 

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

14  For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you,

15  but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

---

The Model Prayer...

1. ...reorients us to God’s identity (6:9).

2. ...reorients us to God’s holiness (6:9).

3. ...reorients us to God’s authority (6:10).

4. ...reorients us to God’s provision (6:11).

-    Daily gratefulness

-    Daily spiritual hunger

-    Foster a moment-by-moment outlook

5. ...reorients us to God’s grace (6:12, 14-15).

6.    ...reorients us to God’s protection (6:13).

Lord...

- Help me remember your identity and throne.

- Help me honor the holiness of your name.

- Help me obey your authority and rule.

- Help me pursue your will fully.

- Help me trust you for my daily needs.

- Forgive me of my sins as I forgive others.

- Guard me from temptation and keep me from the evil one and his schemes.

The Model Prayer helps remind us…

1.    Prayer is an equalizer.

2.    Prayer is a neutralizer.

3.    Prayer is a stabilizer.

4.    Prayer is an energizer.

Jesus on Spiritual Disciplines

Matthew 6:1-18

1 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

2 Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 

3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

5 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.

6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

7 And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

11 Give us this day our daily bread, 

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 

15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

16 And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 

17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 

18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

1.    Jesus warns us that righteous deeds for the eyes of others will receive no other reward (6:1, 5, 16).

  1 Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. ---Matthew 6:1

  5 And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ---Matthew 6:5

  16 And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ---Matthew 6:16

  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. ---Matthew 5:16 (ESV)

2.    Jesus exalts giving, praying, and fasting as disciplines that show our pursuit of God.

   Implications from the Text on Spiritual Disciplines:

   1. As followers of Jesus, we are expected to give, pray and fast. 

   2. These disciplines are difficult.

   3. We are to practice these disciplines to know and love God.  

   4. We are to practice these disciplines to break our allegiances to self and stuff. 

3.    Jesus promises that righteous disciplines done for the Father’s eyes will receive the Father’s reward (6:4, 6, 18).

Jesus on Enemies

Matthew 5:43-46 (ESV)

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 

44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 

45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 

46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 

47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 

48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1.    Jesus resets the standard for dealing with our enemies (5:43-45).

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” ---Luke 23:34 (ESV)

2.    Jesus cements our love for enemies in God's Fatherhood of us (5:45).

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly… 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us… 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. ---Romans 5:6, 8, 10 (ESV)

3.    Jesus contrasts His standard of love with the world's incomplete standards (5:46-48).

“Jesus on Revenge”

Matthew 5:38-42 (ESV)

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 

39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 

40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 

42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

1.    Jesus isn’t teaching us to dismiss injustice against others (5:38-42). 

   >  If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him. Exodus 22:2 (ESV)

   **Critical Race Theory**

   1.    CRT argues that we have racial injustices in aspects of our legal system. 

   2.    CRT, like the theory of evolution, is founded in a worldview that begins without a Creator, and answers our world’s problems without an allegiance to His kingdom.

   3.    We shouldn’t fear CRT or any other human worldview or human answer to aspects of our sin nature. 

   4.    We should be mindful of the influences of non-biblical worldviews, in all their types and sizes, that shape culture, work, education, relationships, and politics. 

      For a helpful overview of CRT, please visit ocbfchurch.org, Critical Race Theory parts 1 and 2, Wed. July 14 and 21, 2021 @ https://www.ocbfchurch.org/services/wednesday-nights-the-cliff/

2.  In Jesus’ kingdom, we mustn't retaliate against personal injustices (5:39).  

   Contrast…

   >  19 If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, 20 fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. Leviticus 24:17-20 (ESV) 

   >  38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil.” Matthew 5:38-39 (ESV)

   

   

   

3. Jesus illustrates that we should handle personal injustices with generous grace (5:40-42).

>  20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 1 Peter 1:20-23 (ESV)