Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this month.  While driving to a Revival, I had left behind a box of Scripture Booklets that I needed, that were necessary in fact. And Debbie and I met there, in the heart of the City, to solve the problem! She kindly brought the material to me.

A Bit of News, first …

This is a travel day.

I leave in an hour or two for Kentucky.

Liberty Baptist Church near Elizabethtown, Pastor Mark Widemann, a three night Revival Meeting!

For that reason, I needed to delay writing my Lesson this morning.

I felt it urgent to get in the car and go … not knowing what kind of traffic situation I’ll face as I drive through several major cities.

Well, I no sooner typed that word “CITIES,” than a thought came rushing into my mind!

Today’s Bible Lesson, after all …

Did you ever think of how Jesus loved Cities, one in particular? (“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!) His Words here are found in Matthew 23:37.

And did you ever realize how the Apostle Paul concentrated his work for Christ in the Cities of the Roman Empire? (Corinth, Thessalonica, Athens, Ephesus, Philippi, and of course Rome, these being a few examples!)

My point today is simple.

Have you ever prayed for a City?

The metropolitan area nearest you, for instance.

Today I’ll (the Lord willing) drive through Chattanooga, Nashville, nearly to Louisville! Before the week is over I hope to be near Cincinnati!

Pray for these places!

That God will save souls there.

Send laborers there.

Withhold iniquity there.

Give Revival there.

Listen to Paul one more time. “But I will tarry at Ephesus … for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” 1st Corinthians 16:8, discussing a City!

Learn a little about the City which God has laid on your heart.

It could even be a city overseas.

Tokyo?

London?

Even Moscow?

I know one. The one Jesus referenced earlier in the Lesson. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6

Well, the rest is up to YOU and the HOLY SPIRIT!

Wow, intercessors for the cause of Christ!

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

We met that day at a popular fast-food place in Atlanta called the Varsity. Near the Georgia Tech Campus … where both these photos were taken. In a city …

 

I was driving home from a Revival Meeting, Thursday of last week I believe. My route carried me through the pretty little City of Rome, Georgia. And in Rome there is a quaint little used bookstore, Dogwood Books by name. I decided to invest ten or fifteen minutes in that little “gold mine” of Bible truth. They have an unusually good selection of theological, Christian material.

I just mentioned to the owner that I was looking for material on the whole armour of God, Ephesians 6, and he immediately suggested William Gurnall on the subject, a classic indeed. I realized at that moment this man knew his books, Bible related anyway!

Oh, traffic is always busy in downtown Rome, particularly in the City Square, where Dogwood is located. But that day I found a parking place immediately in front of the store! I made this photo looking through my front windshield! If you look carefully you can even see my GPS attached in its place. I decided right then I was “on track!” Never have I been able to park that close!

Today’s Bible Lesson …

I personally count many such sweet conveniences as blessings from the Lord. Parking places, kind words, often letters or texts or emails, a Preacher calling wanting to schedule a Revival!

“Open doors,” Paul might have termed them!

Yes, the bookstore that day was an “open door,” though I only bought 2 little books, but both have proved precious in my study of the Word of God!

There have been times when, at Dogwood, I sat and perused a book before investing any money in it. They have several places in the store to do this. Mine is upstairs, right by the religious section. Good bookstores always encourage this!

But more importantly now … Jesus believes in “open doors,” too! He said to the Church at Philadelphia: “Behold, I have set before thee an OPEN DOOR,” Revelation 3:8.

The very reason I’m writing on this theme today, Christmas Eve, is that many an open door will be placed before us in the next day or two.

Time with loved ones!

Time to tell the Story of Jesus!

Time to love a person who may not even be here next year!

Time to go to Church and sing the beautiful Carols about our Saviour!

Time to handle some little problem, in a Christlike way!

All … open doors!

Oh, friends … let us use them wisely!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

And, by the way, from Debbie and me to you all … MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

I was at the bookstore, just a few days ago, and saw this relatively new Tittle. It immediately caught my eye, having been written by a Pastor who leads one of the largest congregations in Texas, among Baptist Churches anyway.

I looked at the Table of Contents (knowing you can’t always tell a book by its cover)! I learned that Dr. Jeffress refuses to budge on the key issues of our Faith! He even has a chapter about “The Intolerant Jesus!”

As in: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” And yes, Jesus Himself was talking there in John 14:6.

But our “politically correct” world and its fierce “thought police” try desperately to force the issue … that “love” trumps “faith” at every angle!

This Book seems to be arguing: I WILL NOT AGREE!

Reminds me of what three young Jewish men said to a wicked King Nebuchadnezzar one day long ago. In the face of martyrdom, standing by a burning fiery furnace. “Be it known unto thee, O king, that WE WILL NOT serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Daniel 3:18

“We will not …”

Folks, in these specially dark days we all are going to have to learn to use those words: “I WILL NOT!”

Because, no matter what the ecumenical religious crowd may be saying … ALL ROADS DO NOT LEAD TO HEAVEN!

Proverbs 14:12 shouts: “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Wow!

And Peter preached: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is NONE OTHER NAME under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12, where that Name is Jesus!

Many other areas exist as well … where (looks like) we Christians are going to have to STAND ALONE!

Paul knew the feeling: “At my first answer (trial) NO MAN STOOD WITH ME, but ALL FORSOOK ME: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.” 2nd Timothy 4:16

Yet we must share this exclusive Jesus … with a far too inclusive world! Otherwise, multitudes will die and go to Hell, a literal place of fire and brimstone and eternal (never-ending) torment!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Anyone agree?

My text number … 770-844-7627

 

The view as I stepped out the door of my 4th floor room, big motel!

These pictures were made recently in a motel where I was staying, preaching in a nearby Revival. The Motel Chain was kind to me, upgrading me to a larger room than normal. So, for several days and nights, I lived in that place, studying the Word of God!

Today’s Bible Lesson …

A preacher in a room, pursuing his ministry!

Clearly a reminder of 2nd Kings 4:10 where a woman asked her husband: “Let us make a little chamber, I pray thee, on the wall; and let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick: and it shall be, when he cometh to us, that he shall turn in thither.”

Oh, I wish I could tell you how very sweet some of those times are … the Lord and me … in a simply furnished room … delighting over the Word, the Bible, the Holy Scriptures!

Yes, a bed … for sleep.

A table … one must eat.

A stool, on which to type Lessons for the Website!

And a candlestick, lots of light (for reading) if possible!

And this all was provided for me, not by a Shunammite family, but by a loving local Church, the one in which I was preaching that week, during what the Pastor called a “Christmas Revival!”

My point today?

Do YOU have a place you can occasionally (or better yet, regularly) go and meet the Lord? Study His Word? Pray and commune with the Creator of the universe?

Nearly everywhere Abraham went … he immediately built an altar … to worship God. A PLACE to meet the Almighty!

Get you such a place!

A prayer “closet,” so to speak.

A Bible Study “corner,” conducive to devouring the Word of God!

And you, as you spend time in your dedicated place, will feel as the hymn writer of old did …

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

Praise the Lord!

Try it, someone. Just for a week … it’s habit forming!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Maybe someone reading today already does this. Or plans to start soon. Or simply enjoyed the Lesson … let me know, 770-744-7627, my text number. Your responses are always so encouraging!

Here was the view, looking up toward my “place,” from the lobby.

 

It’s merely a picture … of me. Debbie made it this past Sunday after Church. Actually we were trying to highlight the tie, accenting pure white snowflakes on a red (Christmas like) background.

Now, today’s Bible Lesson …

I look at the tie and bubble over with thanks! It was a gift from a Preacher friend, a Pastor, for whom I have conducted Revivals for several years. Each year he and his Wife present us with a Christmas gift, two actually. And mine always contains a … tie! So appropriate for Preachers! Well, old fashioned, fundamental ones who still wear ties!

Then (in the picture) I see a suit, black. Which too was a gift. Again I am grateful!

And my glasses, which the Lord provided in a special way. More thanksgiving!

Standing in our living room, one which is warm and dry (no leaking). Goodness, I’m saying “Thank You” Lord once more!

I was also positioned within three feet of our Christmas tree. With its banner at the top proclaiming HOPE, in red. And by now I’m nearly bursting with thanks, HOPE IN JESUS! A blessed Hope, He’s coming again!

And a sweet Wife who made the picture, more thanks yet!

Just returning home from preaching … my gratefulness scale just hit “10!”

On and on I could go.

I think I might realize what Paul meant when he characterized the Christian as one who lives … “abounding in thanksgiving!”  Where “abounding” in Greek means “overflowing” or more literally, “all around!”

Yes, from Colossians 2:7. “Rooted and built up in him (Jesus), and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

Amen!

I know it’s Christmas, and traits like generosity and worship and hospitality and brotherly love get most attention. After all, the month of November and Thanksgiving Day have passed for another year.

But … can’t we be thankful even now for all the blessings we enjoy?

Full well knowing … “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17

Let me suggest a little assignment for us all today.

Take a piece of paper and a pencil or pen … and list 5 (or 10) things for which you are exceedingly thankful! And if you can’t write at the moment, list the things in your head, your heart … and thank the Lord profusely!

Paul was right. We should “in every thing give thanks.” 1st Thessalonians 5:18

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Someone text me what is at the TOP of your gratefulness list today! At 770-844-7627. If you forget to text, tell somebody anyway! In addition to praising the Lord with a thankful heart.