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Archives for October 2020

A DEAD DOG?

October 30, 2020 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

I head a Preacher say this years ago, three simple words … yet a powerful little sentence!

“EXPECTATIONS DESTROY GRATEFULNESS!”

If a person gives you a certain thing, and you feel you deserve it (and perhaps even more that that single item) … you will NOT be truly thankful for it. The donor has only acted in accordance with what you rightly figured on receiving.

After all, look who you are!

On the other hand, if someone gives you something, and you feel so unworthy, so humble, so meek … so “not deserving” of that boon … you will be exceedingly grateful!

If you Wife cooks you a delicious meal and she “owes” it to you as your (lucky) companion … you WILL not be grateful. Yet again … if you thought you might just eat a peanut butter sandwich … knowing how long it takes to cook a full orbed meal … you WILL more than likely be delighted, thankful!

Again I say it … “EXPECTATIONS DESTROY GRATEFUNESS!”

Spiritually now, if you “expect” God to bless you abundantly every day, that you ought to receive such “daily benefits” (after all you are quite the servant of the Lord) … I predict you will scarcely take time to sincerely say, “Thank You, Lord!”

But, conversely, if you consider yourself “unworthy” of even you next breath … I promise you … you will appreciate (from the depths of you soul) “every good and perfect gift!” (Which does come down from our Father above!)

The Verse that got me to so pontificate this morning?

Where Mephibosheth said to gracious King David … “And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee KINDNESS (GRACE) for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a DEAD DOG as I am?” 2 Samuel 9:7-8

Grateful … because unworthy!

I suggest to you this morning we are all unworthy of God’s blessings!

We do not deserve them!

That’s the very foundational definition of GRACE … “God’s unmerited favour!”  We’re unworthy!

So if we … as He daily blesses us (if He so chooses) … are surprised, elated … we will tend to be more grateful, more thankful!

Mephibosheth sure was!

We were also dead in our sins when Jesus saved us! (“Dead dogs, dead Gentiles!)

So let me close by saying to Him …

THANK YOU, LORD!

I DESIRE TO BE MORE GRATEFUL TO YOUH THAN EVER BEFORE!

Because as the old song says: “I (truly) am not worthy of the least of His Favour!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

After all, us “dead dogs” do not deserve much!

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“THY BURDEN!”

October 29, 2020 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

Psalm 55:22 promises: “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee.”

Surely this great Verse in some ways parallels 1 Peter 5:7 … “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

And yet in some ways it differs, too.

Let me show you …

The verb “cast” (in Psalm 55:22) translates “shalak,” meaning “to throw, to fling, to hurl.” And it is an imperative, a demand in fact. We are commanded to so “unload” on the Lord! (Here the verbs of 1 Peter 5:7 and our text are identical in meaning, but Peter does not express his as a command!)

But now a more marked difference. While the word “care” in the New Testament Verse means “worries, distractions,” the noun “burden” in Psalm 55:22 means “whatever dispensation is given you.” Essentially this means “anything that comes your way!” In other words … give to God every single “situation” in your life!

And yet again, while we learn from Peter that the Lord “cares” for us, “has tender regard” for us … David in this Psalm emphasizes God’s “sustaining” Power. The Hebrew verb expressed as “sustain” in today’s Verse translates “kul” in Hebrew. Meaning “to feed” 6 times in the Old Testament! And “to nourish” 3 more times! And get this … “to abide with” three times!

Similarities and differences!

But both Promises … definitely assuring and uplifting!

But I am this morning a bit partial to Psalm 55:22. Especially, I guess, because it’s “new” to me, “fresh” may be a better word. “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee.”

I think it is more comprehensive that Peter’s advice. (Which, as I mentioned earlier, is not a command, not grammatically anyway.)

Whatever comes your way, “toss” it on the Lord! He is Strong enough (omnipotent, all mighty in fact) and will (in your particular situation) “feed, nourish, abide with” you … and even 1 time “comprehend” (surround) you, sustain you in life’s every event!

Wow!

Psalm 55:22, its criteria, does not even have to be a problem … just ANYTHING! Big or little!

In essence … share your life, its every moment, with the Lord!

Now that sounds a lot like the Apostle Paul … “For me to live is Christ!”

One more time … “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee.”

Praise His Name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

The noun “burden” is hapax here in the whole Old Testament, only used this one time! “Whatever” God “places” in front of you, “drops” into your life! (Maybe He puts things in our lives … just to nudge us to lean on Him for support!)

Amazing! What the dear Holy Spirit can “build” into a single Verse of inspired Scripture!

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“HE LEADETH ME … BY THE RIGHT WAY”

October 28, 2020 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

One of the outstanding traits of any good shepherd is that he properly “leads” his flock.

Psalm 107 is amazing. It gives one scenario after another and shows God meeting the needs of people.

Including the lost, the scattered, the disoriented!

Read it with me, Psalm 107:3-6 … “And He gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.”

Wow!

Then today’s Text, Psalm 107:7 … “And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.”

He took them from the vast desert (wilderness) … to the palatial City!

Thus, He “led” them.

That evokes memories of Psalm 23, “He leadeth me,” says the little lamb of His great Shepherd.

But specifically … “He led them forth by the RIGHT way.” Psalm 107:7

I’ll promise you this … He will never lead you the “wrong” way!

He may lead you His way, not your way.

And He may lead you an indirect way, not the most “logical” route.

Exodus 13:17-18 provides an example of such circuitous leading … “And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, ALTHOUGH THAT WAS NEAR; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: but GOD LED THE PEOPLE ABOUT (IN CIRCLES), through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed (arrayed for battle) out of the land of Egypt.”

But “lead you,” He will!

Yes, lead you the “right way!”

Psalm 23 once again … “He leadeth me IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!”

That’s the “right way,” for sure!

And Oh, how we need to “follow” His leading.

To “watch” for any hint of the direction He’s headed!

To be this sensitive, attentive … “I (the Lord my Shepherd) will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide (lead) thee with mine EYE.” Psalm 32:8, guiding us with His very look, His slightest glance!

Watch His Eye, then!

His “Hand” too! “Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the HAND of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the HAND of her mistress; so our eyes wait (for leadership, guidance, instruction) upon the LORD our God.” Psalm 123:2

Watch His Hand, too!

A sweet Line from Song of Solomon … “Tell me, O thou whom my soul loveth, where thou feedest, where thou makest thy flock to rest at noon,” a prayer for leadership.

Then the immediate answer … “Go thy way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed.” That’s leadership! (The quotes here are from the Song of Solomon 2:7-8.)

Yes, yes, yes … “And he led them forth by the right way.”

“Lord, so lead us,” we pray! (Even as a nation, lead us the right way! In our voting too!)

This very thought expressed negatively … “And lead us not into temptation.” Matthew 6:13!

Hallelujah for our Shepherd!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

What a record He has, of proper leadership! Even from antiquity … “And he led them forth by the right way.”

Over 2,000,000 people, for a period of 40 years!

“Led, the right way!”

Amen!

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CLASSIC PAUL, A SENTENCE THAT MAY BE BEYOUND HUMAN UNDERSTANDING!

October 27, 2020 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

“For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, Which is the Head of all principality and power.” The Apostle here is speaking of Jesus, of course.

The Text is found in the little Book of Colossians, 2:9-10 to be precise. That little Epistle being one of the most Christ-centered Sections of the whole Bible!

No doubt … Jesus is the full Essence of the “Godhead,” Paul’s word for the Trinity. No other way could our Lord have so beautifully said … “I and my Father are ONE.” John 10:30

So it certainly follows that He would be the “Head” of all power. Again, no other way could He have said … “ALL POWER is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” Matthew 28:18

So … to me anyway, the “key” to this deep Passage is this, one little preposition. I’m thinking of that little “in” where Paul talks about us being “in” Jesus!

He is clearly saying that if I can get “in” Jesus … I am as complete as can be! I can perhaps even “fellowship” with God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit! (Read 1 John 1:3 … “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our FELLOWSHIP is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”)

And he’s also claiming (under divine inspiration) that I can enjoy that awesome Power Jesus possesses by Virtue of Who He is! (Paul again …“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13, that’s some more power!)

But back to my key question … how do I get “in” Christ Jesus?

To experience, enjoy, bask in this Wonderful Lord?

This “in-ness” (being “in” Him) is possible I know. (Scripturally called “abiding in Him” at times.) Look with me at 2 Corinthians 5:17 … “Therefore if any man be IN Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Paul yet again … “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are IN Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

This glorious State of being is brought about the very moment you are “saved!” We are put “in” Jesus! I just found this string of words, this precise phrase (“in Christ”) a total of 77 times in the New Testament!

We can be “in” Jesus just like a (grape) branch is “in” the vine! Jesus now … “Abide IN me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide IN the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide IN me.” John 15:4

Wow!

What I am really asking this morning is … “Are you saved?” Have you been “born again?” Grafted “into” the Lord Jesus Christ?

If not … “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

Better yet … “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9-10

Here’s what one man prayed, and God saved him … “God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13, Jesus teaching, illustrating!

Again I ask, ARE YOU “IN” HIM?

If so, go back and read our Text for the morning … and rejoice!

Here it is … “For in Him (Jesus) dwelleth all the Fulness of the Godhead bodily. And YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the Head of all principality and power.”   

I am amazed!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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“EVEN AS …”

October 26, 2020 by Dr. Mike Bagwell

The shortest Lesson Title I can remember, two little words … but only one in Greek, “houtos!”

“Even as!”

But “even as” what?

Or “even as” whom?

1 John 2:5-6 answers, read it all please. “But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, EVEN AS He walked.”

If I understand this rightly … “keeping” (Greek, “tereo” meaning “to attend to carefully”) God’s “Word” could (or should) enable a man or woman to “walk” (live, behave, conduct oneself) “EVEN AS” He (Jesus) “walked!”

Wow!

Maye that’s why we are called “Christians,” being that Christ-like. Astounding, isn’t it?

“Abiding” in Him, in Jesus and His Word … John’s Term for consciously existing “in” Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, ever “aware” of Him … such obedience leads to “living” EVEN AS He lived!

Listen to Jesus, shortly before He went back to Heaven to be with His dear Father … “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” John 14:12, where in a way “greater works” might even surpass “even as!”

How can this be?

Me living “even as” Jesus did?

Only through our Lord’s present High Priestly Ministry, through Jesus praying for us hour by hour! Precisely, praying John Chapter 17 for us I suspect! What a prayer list!

And … only through the Ministry of God the Holy Spirit in our lives! Paul, tell us please: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (a form of self control).”

“Even as … “

I’ll have to ponder those two little words throughout the day.

“Even as,” quick to type but clearly loaded with tons of meaning!

Think with me please.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

One quaint author preached that we should live “even as” Jesus … for three reasons. For “our own sakes” … to live more purely! For “the sake of others” … to be better witnesses for Christ, to keep people out of Hell! Then (most importantly of all) “for Jesus’ Sake” … to better adore and worship Him Who is so vey worthy!

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