Sweet Hour of Prayer

Today's devotional was submitted by Ed Chisam, who serves as Chairman of the Deacons at First Baptist Church. Eddie's wife, April, also serves as one of our deaconesses. Eddie and April are expecting their first child, and they are grateful to God for His precious gift. In today's blog, Eddie shares a word of exhortation from the Psalms, blending its theme with a testimony from the life of William Walford, who wrote the much-beloved hymn, Sweet Hour of Prayer. This has special relevance to us as a congregation at this particular time, as we have been meeting each evening to spend an hour before God's throne throughout this Week of Prayer. We thank Eddie for sharing this encouraging devotional, which I'm sure will bless and strengthen your heart.

When we meet together to pray, we stir each other up to praise God's holy name. To help reflect upon the Lord's faithfulness and love towards us, I often read some of the Psalms, which help to stimulate a prayerful spirit.

Last night, I read Psalm 146, which teaches us to place our trust in the Lord:

Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.
Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— the LORD, who remains faithful forever.
He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free, the LORD gives sight to the blind, the LORD lifts up those who are bowed down, the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the LORD.

An example of a man who trusted in the Lord was one William Walford, a blind pastor who lived in England in the 1800's. Though he was blind, the Lord gave him an uncommon insight. He memorized large portions of scripture, which he would quote verbatim during his sermons. Walford composed musicial verses of praise. And he prayed continuously to the Lord.

Some in the world may have pitied William Walford, because he could not see. But God loved him, and loved to hear his prayers, and blessed his ministry. Thomas Salmon, from New York, spent some time with William Walford. One day, William Walford recited a song he had been working on, and Thomas Salmon copied down the verses. Today, we sing his song, "Sweet Hour of Prayer", which is a fitting composition from a man who drew such great strength and joy from his time of prayer with the Lord:

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!

A Hole in the Shoe and our Heavenly Father

During this Week of Prayer at First Baptist Church, we are hearing from various folks in our congregation regarding their own journey in the discipline of prayer. Today's contribution comes from Linda McMorrow, who serves as a deaconess and has been a member of First Baptist Church for many, many years, along with her two sons, Chris and Paul. Here is Linda's testimony that she wanted to share with our readership:

Is there anyone out there in trouble and bewildered? Is there anyone out there in pain? I want you to know that the Lord God is aware of all the details of your problems. In fact, if you belong to God as His child, your problems have been designed and sent by Him.

Now, what do we do? If we know God is sovereign over all our affairs, it makes sense to go to the One who sees trouble coming from afar off and who provides for a solution at the same time.
Once I was on my way to work on a dismal day, fragile in spirit and physical strength. My problems that miserable March day were a hole in my shoe and the prospect of a long walk through the slushy city streets, a cold and wet foot for the day, and a daunting assignment. I pleaded with the Lord my Heavenly Father all the way into the city to rescue His pathetic daughter somehow. The prospects looked dim.

After parking my car and getting out, I opened the rear door to retrieve my work equipment. To my everlasting delight, I saw on the opposite floorboard a pair of Eddie Bauer boots, top of the line! I later found out that my son's friend Brad had "accidentally" forgotten to take them home after a sleepover. They fit me perfectly and I walked on glory clouds to my destination. To top it off, when I got to my assignment I was told by the receptionist that the job was canceled. I was able to go home that day which is where I needed to be. I marveled at what a tenderhearted Father I had and I often think back to His precious provision in answer to those whining prayers of mine. God's solution was already in place for me the whole wretched time and I didn't even know it! So be exceedingly glad. The Lord delights in you. He has already answered your prayer and, in due time, it will be revealed to you.

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).

"He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted me" (Psalm 18:19).

Living Double Lives

As I mentioned in yesterday's posting, this week we are featuring different articles submitted by members of our congregation at First Baptist Church as part of our Week of Prayer emphasis. Today's posting was contributed by Brendan Burke, who serves as one of our deacons. Brendan and his wife Julie have been part of the First Baptist Church family for a few years, and during this time the Lord has blessed them with a beautiful daughter, Elizabeth. In today's devotional, Brendan shares with us as believers the importance of being fully devoted followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus said, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it” (Luke 9:23-24).

After Christ came into my life, the Holy Spirit showed me what this text meant. The more I turned from my old sinful ways, the more true joy and peace I would find. This is only found in our new life in Christ.

The apostle Paul reminds us, “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:3-4).

Meditate on these words. We should have only one life and it ought to be hidden in Christ Jesus. Isn’t this one of the first steps of our Christian walk: Recognizing that we are not our own, but that we are God’s. We have been bought with a price. I believe we lack a great deal of peace in our lives because of the way we approach God each day. We can go through the motions of a daily quiet time: read the Word and say a quick prayer. All the while we plan our day and decide our own agendas. We forget the rest of Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Did you get that? Whatever. That means everything. Do not forget that when you lose your life you will find it. If God was big enough to save you from your sins as you trusted him for your salvation, which is for eternity, surely you can trust him when your day is simply not going very well. Do not forget that Jesus is the potter and we are the clay. Let Jesus mold you into something beautiful. Jesus was one with the Father. He trusted him even to the point of shedding His own blood. But look at the beautiful results from Christ’s life. Colossians 3:15 says, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” If we are trying to hold on to our old self we will never find true peace. Is there anything attractive about someone who lives hypocritically? How quickly we can recognize when someone’s actions don’t line up with their words. Why then do we think it is acceptable when it comes to our walks with God? Please read Colossians3 in its entirety. It is a good chapter to put to memory.

We are not here to serve ourselves. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship” (Rom. 12:1).

If you believe the Bible is God's Word, please take Jesus at His word. Acts 2:42 says, “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

God has not changed. He will still hear our prayers if we cry out to him. Like it says in Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

God, Our Source of Help and Hope

Throughout this Week of Prayer at First Baptist Church, I have decided to post testimonies and devotionals on prayer from various folks in our congregation. I pray that these contributions will bless and encourage you in your own prayer efforts as you read them.

Today's contribution is by Ellen Capozzi, who along with her husband Joe, have been part of the FBC family for about a year and a half. They both teach Bible School classes and are devoted to the Lord and His Church. Here is what Ellen has to say regarding her own education in the school of prayer:

When I was a new Christian I loved reading and studying my Bible, but I didn't pray much, if at all. I would call my sister or Pastor any time I had a problem, once even in the middle of the night. After a while, the Lord not so subtly was trying to teach me to come to Him, and not to put my hope in people to rescue me from my troubles. For a long time either no one was available to help me, or they totally let me down. My favorite verse at the time was Psalm 108:12- "Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless."

I'm so thankful that the Lord was so patient to teach me to pray, and so faithful and gracious to answer my prayers through the years. Truly "He is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble" (Psalm 46:1). Now I know that people can help me only as God helps them.

"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him" (Psalm 62:5).

Make Believe

One of a parents’ greatest joys on Christmas morning is watching their children open up their presents. The most “excited” age group tends to be that which lies between the toddler and teen years, when a child's glee over gifts seems to be at its zenith. The air is filled with laughter as girls play with their new dolls and boys conquer the universe with their action figures. Many games and adventures are enjoyed by our children as they utilize one of God’s greatest gifts--imagination.

About thirty years ago, when my siblings and I were caught up in our own imaginary world, my father took notice of our fanciful fun and wrote a poem about it. In essence, Dad's poem reminds us of the role that imagination plays and the importance of keeping it in its proper place. The poem is entitled "Make Believe." I've thought of this poem many times over the years while watching my own kids play in their little world of "let's pretend." I hope that you, too, will enjoy the poem and take its message to heart.

I often watch my children play,
And how amazed am I that they
Are occupied for hours on end
With games that start with “Let’s pretend.”

They play at “house”, they play at “store”;
They play at “school”, they play at “war”.
They play at “cops and robbers”, too;
There’s nothing little minds can’t do.

Yes, “let’s pretend” contributes joy
To every little girl and boy;
And drab and dull would childhood be,
If it were not for fantasy.

The thought that weighs upon my mind
Is: Some don’t leave those years behind.
Concerning things “beyond the veil”,
They still let fantasy prevail.

They make believe there is no hell;
They make believe their souls are well;
They reason, under false pretense,
That works will be their sure defense.

Behold, the final, fearful end
Of those, like babes, who still pretend!
For in eternal things, you see,
There is no room for fantasy.

For fantasy oft times conflicts
With that which God on high edicts;
And fiction from the days of youth
Must not displace the written truth.

Because the Bible doth reveal
That mankind’s need for Christ is real.
Imagination has a role,
But not in matters of the soul.

And what of you, good Christian friend?
Do you serve God, or just pretend?
Do you the Holy Spirit grieve,
By service only “make believe”?

How Has God Magnified His Word Above His Name?

This morning I was reading Psalm 138 and came across an intriguing statement: "You have magnified Your word above all Your name."

If you think through the implications of this statement, then you can see why it’s so intriguing. God’s name speaks of His great power and majesty, His perfect character and utter holiness. His is the name which is above every name (Phil. 2:9). Since God’s name represents His person, how can anything – including God’s word – be magnified above His name?

To answer this question, we must go to the context in which this statement occurs. Psalm 138 is written by David, after having been delivered from a difficult or perilous situation. Here are the first three verses of the psalm in their entirety:

I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
In the day when I cried out,
You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.

So the context has to do with God’s faithfulness to His servant. Other gods (notice the small ‘g’) are everywhere, but David worships the one true God - the God who has been true to His word. God did not only do what He said He would do, but a whole lot more. Through the abundant fulfillment of His promise to David, God showed Himself to be more than what David had already thought Him to be.

Along these same lines, it may also be said that this demonstration of God’s faithfulness surpassed all previous revelation concerning Himself. This would be very consistent with David’s prayer in 2 Samuel 7, which he gave after receiving the Davidic promise. In verses 21-22, David prayed, "For Your word’s sake, and according to Your own heart, You have done all these great things, to make Your servant know them. Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears." God, through His faithfulness, showed Himself to be even greater than that which had been previously revealed to His people. In this way, He magnified His word above all His name.

There’s a third and final sense in which this statement might be interpreted, and this is in reference to Christ Himself. What if this statement, like so many others in the Psalms, is Messianic in nature? That is to say, perhaps it has an immediate reference and application to David’s present circumstances as well as an ultimate reference and application to the Lord Jesus Christ. If "Your Word" in Psalm 138:2 refers to the Incarnate Word, then it means that God has magnified His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, above every other manifestation of Himself. Consider the following Scriptures:

John 1:14, 18 - "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."

Colossians 1:15 - "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."

Hebrews 1:1-4 - ""God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son. . . who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they."

The name of Jesus Christ is indeed the name "that is above every name" (Phil. 2:9). Now this is pretty exciting stuff, but it gets better! Second Corinthians 3:18 says, "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." The mirror is the Word of God. As we go to the Bible, we see Jesus revealed in all His splendor. We don’t see Jesus simply in the light of His moral beauty – and certainly not His manly beauty (Isa. 53:2) – but in His present glory, exalted at the Father's right hand (Phil. 2:9-11; Col. 1:15-18; 1 Tim. 6:15-16; Heb. 1:1-13; Rev. 1).

If all this were not astounding enough, there is yet another glorious reality expressed in 2 Corinthians 3:18. Did you catch it? Paul says that as we behold the glory of Christ in Scripture, we "are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." Herein lies the secret to Christian holiness: Preoccupation with Christ as revealed in Scripture. The more we truly come to know Him, the more we become truly like Him.

Granted, this transformation is not automatic or immediate, but gradual. As we let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly (Col. 3:16), our lives increasingly reflect His glory. What a great incentive to study God’s Word! May we give ourselves to this worthy endeavor, knowing that God has exalted His Word above all His name!

Ministering to Children: A Lesson from the Life of Robert Murray M'Cheyne

This past Tuesday, we enjoyed yet another Christmas program put on by the students of First Baptist Christian School. How great it is to hear kids sing out with all their hearts to the Lord. Children are such a blessing! I wonder how many of us adults seek to bless them?

Some years back, I read Andrew Bonar's biographical work on Robert Murray M'Cheyne, a godly Scottish pastor who died at age 29, having been beset by various illnesses throughout his short life (1813-1843). Yet M'Cheyne's love for the Lord and for people was so intense, that he made more of an impact on his generation in his 29 years than most people do in a lifetime -- or even twenty-nine lifetimes!

In reflecting on some of M'Cheyne's most endearing qualities, Andrew Bonar recalled how his dear friend's "heart felt for the young." He found considerable joy in teaching children and had a knack for getting down on their level to communicate to them biblical truth. Citing one particular case that came to mind, Bonar wrote, "Ever watchful for opportunities, on the blank leaf of a book which he had sent to a little boy in his congregation, he wrote these simple lines:

Peace be to thee, gentle boy!
Many years of health and joy!
Love Your Bible more than play,
Grow in wisdom every day.
Like the lark on hovering wing,
Early rise, and mount and sing;
Like the dove that found no rest
Till it flew to Noah's breast,
Rest not in this world of sin,
Till the Savior take thee in.

Most of us can't write clever little rhymes such as this, but we can follow M'Cheyne's example in ministering to children -- first to our own and then other children as God gives us opportunity. This is especially important this Christmas season, as commercialism can so easily crowd out Christ from our affections. As we go about our busy lives this week, let's do what we can to be a blessing to children, remembering the love that God has for them.