Daybreak Devotions: Recent Episodes
Daybreak Devotions
Change comes to us all, and often. In this conclusion to the message on Finishing Well, we also wrap up this year of Daybreak Devotions, and our final episode of this format.
There is practical advice here about how we treat our hearts as we all move into these final days of 2023 and the New Year, 2024!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Some of us have a tendency during the final week of the year to shift our focus toward starting the New Year well. That is not a bad thing, planning, dreaming, and anticipating are healthy and essential.
But, what if the key to starting the New Year well is finishing this year strong first? To do that, we must begin by searching our heart to see what is reflected there, as it reveals the truth about who we are and where we are.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Originally aired in 2022:
In the second of this two-part special, take a trip down memory lane as we review the lessons we learned from our viewing of It's a Wonderful Life, and how we can truly live a wonderful life each and every day!
Originally aired in 2022
In the first of this two-part special, take a trip down memory lane as we review the lessons we learned from our viewing of It's a Wonderful Life, and how we can truly live a wonderful life each and every day!
Merry Christmas from McLeansville Baptist and Daybreak Devotions! As we bring our Christmas Countdown to a close, we wanted to share our thoughts about our favorite songs of the season! What a great Christmas it has been, and we wish you all a great day filled with worship and wonder!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
In this Christmas Friday Funday we enjoy sharing our Top 10 Christmas Passages, followed by the conclusion of the devotion on Simeon and Anna, seeing the rewards that come with being devout followers of God!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
There is true power in true devotion. As we look at the short but powerful insert of Simeon and Anna into the Christmas story, we learn some important truth about what true devotion is and how it manifests itself in our lives.
After a visit to the temple with Joseph, Mary, and Jesus, and the encounters with Simeon and Anna, how can we not want to reclaim our devotion during this season?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Christmas is a rich and ready time for us to do some serious soul care work. With everything that pulls us in the myriad of directions, with all the trouble we have with our flesh, it is a gift to have an entire season of the year where we are constantly being called back to the love of God through the wonder of Christs' coming!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
It's Tuesday of the countdown to Christmas week! Today we are joined by Pastor Mike's old Army buddy, MSG (Ret.) A.J. Bibb. We enjoy a Friday type seasonal celebration, and then talk about the gifts the wisemen brought to the young child Jesus.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We missed last Friday due to "the plague," but for today's bonus, extended material, episode we are back with holiday cheer! We've got a trivia, treats, and the Top 10 Christmas Books!
What make wise men or wise women wise? We want to think on that and encourage you this Christmas season to become lifelong students of the way of Jesus!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Welcome to the countdown to Christmas week! It is Monday and on today's episode we take a look at how our outlook on life can sometimes become unbalanced in a negative perspective, but as we consider the shepherds encounter with the angels and the message of Christs' birth, we can see some important ways that our daily encounters with God can reframe our way of looking at life.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
OK, the title may not be proper grammar, but the question could not be more important! As we navigate through this busy season, we certainly want to be diligent to not forget the One for whom the season is all about!
Join us for some reflections from Luke 2 on how we can keep our attention from drifting completely away from the Christ we honor at Christmas!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Psalm 145 puts forth a calling for every believer, "Give God your very best!" The heart made new in Christ desperately wants to live that way, but how? What does our best for God look like and consist of? This psalm sums it up with two repeated thoughts that, when lived, bring out the best in us for God's glory! What are they? The Confidence of the Saints in the Character of God!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
It's another trip in the Wayback Machine! This time, we revisit December of 2021, where the question of the hour is, what would my life look like if Jesus was really my focus?
Pastor Mike is back! Well, mostly. Still in recovery phase from a week of sickness he makes an effort to string thoughts together in a sensible way!
The topic today is an extension of meditating on the experience of being sick and how the process of healing happens. It is a good analogy for the Christian experience. We are given new life by and in Christ, but the old carnal nature still exists, like the lingering effects of a bad sickness. Recovery (as in, our Christian maturity) will largely depend on how we do, or do not, take personal responsibility to help ourselves continue to get well.
In recovering from sickness we need to pace ourselves, drink plenty of fluids, eat healthy, and be patient. How might this translate into the spiritual life?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
In this throwback to the Mid Morning Manna days, we revisit December 2020 (yikes!) and reflect on the lesson of making room in your heart for Jesus!
We've all been given the charge to be an example for Christ. But what exactly does that look like, and how do I implement that into my day to day life?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Within every child of God is a good treasure which enables them to produce good fruit. The key is finding and focusing on that treasure, and determining to share that gift with others!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Unity is a conduit to hearing from God. When a team is on mission together, and intentionally focused, surrendered to the goal, and stripped of selfishness andself-centeredness, there is a whole other level of experiencing the life and power of Christ that cannot be known otherwise.
On this trip we saw this in refreshingly affirming ways. Write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com
McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We just returned home from NYC with our mission team. Two days of homeless outreach in Manhattan in which, we are convinced, our team received as much or more help than the people we went to minister to. One of the greatest ways was the experience of Christ's virtue in the midst of an angry mob!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We have a fun packed episode today as we not only enjoy a Friday Funday, but we kick off the Christmas season with our first Top 10 of the month! Pastor Matthew Jones stops by and we all enjoy a sweet holiday cup of cheer!
The Bible topic of the day is Unity in the Church! What it is and how we get it!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
In the conclusion of this series, we take a look at the 1918 hymn, "Living by Faith," and then finish our survey of Hebrews 11 as we see the faith of the saints, their confidence in God and endurance with God, through their pilgrimage of life!
Write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.comMcLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Hebrews 11 is a register of Old Testament Saints who lived by faith and died in faith, and they form for us a "great cloud of witnesses," both to provoke us and encourage us to do the same thing. The life of faith can be summarized by two words which are made evident in these men and women, the words are, "Confidence and Endurance."
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We've likely all sung the song, "Living by faith, and feel no alarm!" And for however long you have been in the church you have heard preachers preach it, "We are called to live by faith! Living by faith pleases God!"
It is true, the Bible teaches it, and four times we read in the scripture, "The just shall live by faith." Now, what does it mean? And how, exactly, are we to live by faith?"
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
In this re air of an August classic, Pastor Mike and Pastor Corey are joined by the legendary Sir Thomas of Gaskins to discuss just what all God is worthy of (here's a hint - it's everything!)
Happy Thanksgiving In this second of the two-part special, we discuss three principles from Psalm 131 which will help us all to live in that quiet and peaceable place during the potentially turbulent holiday season. We want to live in the joy and not lose it because of the rush and pressure that sometimes comes.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We all know that this time of year is usually a healthy mixture of joy and sadness, or anticipation and anxiety, and we sometimes begin with high hopes and end with disappointment. But it doesn't have to be that way.
In this first of a two-part Thanksgiving and holiday special, we take counsel from Psalm 131 on how to keep our soul well in the season so that we can enjoy it to the full!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
How do you prepare your soul for gathering at the house of God? David said he was glad when they said, "It's time to go to church!" (Psalm 122, slightly paraphrased!).
Perhaps you often come to church hoping for the best, expecting that being there will lead you into a worshipful spirit. Actually, to have the best church experience, we need to begin long before we get there. So, today we share a few practical thoughts and how to get a glad heart before we get to church!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
On this Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13), we have some disciples who are really missing the point and really need to learn the truth. We are not talking about nominal Christians, we are not dealing with SMO's (you know, Sunday Morning Only's), we are talking about Peter, James, and John, the inner circle of the inner circle, and yet, devoted as they were, they still had to learn, and keep learning. They had been raised as devout Jews, now they loved Jesus, but you can't put new wine in old wineskins!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Today, we take a trip in the Wayback Machine, and return to September 26, 2000, and enjoy an episode of Mid Morning Manna, hosted by the late Rev. Jack Lemons and his wife, Mrs. Jean. We honor their many years of faithfulness both behind the pulpit, and behind the mic, and hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane!
Everyone wants their life to matter for something, but how to we ensure that we are being all that we were created to be? Jesus gives us the key, if we are simply willing to follow!
A gift is only as good as its usefulness to us, so what is it that we can hope to receive from properly using the gifts Jesus has given us?
The true value of a gift is so often determined by the significance of the giver. If that's the case, then the gifts that Jesus has given to us should be viewed as extremely valuable! So, what are these gifts, and how do we make use of them each day?
Have you ever wondered whether your prayer for someone else was really making a difference? Perhaps you've felt like praying on behalf of a loved one is really just a religious exercise that God expects, but is ultimately confusing as to how effective it is? That's the topic of today's Daybreak Devotion!
Is the will of God some unknowable, yet specific destination, or some constantly changing goal which we can never achieve? Is there a way to truly pursue God's will for our lives?
Worry - it's almost an inevitable part of the human condition. But what if there was a way to be properly prepared for the future, but not crippled by anxiety and worry?
After a news story that is quite the stinker, we turn our attention to a few powerful quotes about the nature of true faith, including one of Oswald Chambers great teachings on faith from the classis devotional My Utmost for Hs Highest.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Reform, reformed, reformation may carry some "baggage" for some people. So, let's use this Bible word, "renew!" God's intention is the total renewal of our soul! As we learn to resist the world and let the Spirit, by the word, renew our minds, we are transformed into the likeness of Jesus our Lord! This is our ongoing, necessary work of reformation, both as individual disciples and as the church together.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
It was October 31, 1517, when the monk and theologian Martin Luther walked up to the doors of the All-Saint’s Church in Wittenberg and posted his, “Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences,” which came to be known for the rest of time as, “Luther’s 95 Theses.” Thus, the Reformation, on of the most significant moments in church history was begun, and Luther, who never intended such an outcome, lit a fire that gave life to the Protestant rise and ultimately the evangelical movement of more recent times.We have a lot to look back on and celebrate concerning the Reformation. The church of Jesus Christ is stronger because of it. But it was not one and done. We only need to look back at the scriptures in the time of Jesus and we see that he was, is, the ultimate reformer! The church must always be paying attention, considering what is being taught, is it accurate, is it scriptural (1 Thessalonians 5:20-23)? Is it a tradition which has now become a commandment which we judge others by? Reformation is personal and corporate, but it is, in both ways, continuous (Ephesians 4).Write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com
McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
The word of God invites us into this fullness of life with God through the Holy Spirit. But, why do we need this? What is the filling of the Spirit? And how can we truly be filled with the Spirit if God?
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Our first and truest allegiance must be to God and if it is, then our lesser, but good loyalties, will be in the appropriate place and measure.
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The third component of this pathway to living holy is Allegiance. What is allegiance to God? We really need this part of it because true allegiance brings true freedom for our living!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
The Bible repeatedly offers us this trifecta of how we can live a devout life for the Lord. Our Attention must be fixed on God, our Affection must be found with God, and our Allegiance must be lived for God. How does this work?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
There is a close link between our Attention and our Affection! Both are owed to God, that is where Allegiance comes in. However, to be faithful, and to live holy, we are going to find that every day is a battle. How can we live in such a way that really demonstrates, "I owe my all to you Lord!"?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Faithful members of any church are going to want to not only be at a special meeting (i.e. revival, conference, etc.) but may also wonder, "What can I do to make this meeting more meaningful for my own soul but also as a contributing member of the church?"
Special meetings are not spectator events, they are for everyone to be engaged in. Here are some guiding thoughts on how to prepare for special meetings as a member of a church.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
There is a misconception in the church world that we have to make a choice between happiness and holiness (even if it is not stated out loud), but that is absolutely false. In fact, holiness is a vital component of the truest from of happiness.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Depending on who you listen to, or what circles you run in, you may hear things like, "God is not concerned with your happiness, He wants your obedience," which is often translated in our mind as, "Ok, so I can either be happy or holy."
What a terrible false impression to make on the Christian soul! God not only permits your happiness, He promotes it! It is not either or, but both happy and holy, holy and happy, they just go together in the life of God and God's people!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
It helps to correct the wrong ideas about living with enthusiasm for God. It does not mean that one has to be always exuding joyfulness and cheer and repeating phrases like "Praise the Lord!" and "God is good all the time," throughout their day. Neither does it mean forsaking all earthly forms of pleasure and fun and living a sort of cave dwelling monastic life. Let's nail this down! What does a life in enthused with God look like?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
The biblical pages are filled with the enthusiastic expression of faith filled believers who seem to hardly be able to contain their excitement for God and expressions of praise and thanksgiving. Yet, we look around today (both in and out of the church) and there seems to be little true enthusiasm in our culture. We do not need to live that way, we can be enthused by, for, and in God! Let's look at this!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Trying to pray can feel disappointing, empty and leave us thinking we are failing as a Christian, if, that is, we are doing it wrongly. In this How-To discussion we look at what prayer is and how it works so much better when we remove the pressure to perform and simply seek to be present to the Lord.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Since we know the still waters are part of the soul restoration which we all need, it is an imperative to recognize where and what they are. Pastor Mike and Pastor Corey discuss the meaning of the still waters and share examples of where they have found them in their lives.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
There is a reason the Shepherd leads the sheep there. There is a reason the Husbandmen plants the tree there. Let's consider three effects of still waters on the soul.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Still waters play a vital role in the restoration of our soul. This is the Shepherds way, He leads us there. Every sheep who is living well has to learn the way of the Shepherd, and in that we learn the value of slowing our pace, shrinking our world, and shepherding our hearts into the shepherding of the Good Shepherd.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
This is a monumental task! How to offer this "how-to" in less than 30 minutes when the subject is so exciting and vital?!
There are many who say they struggle with reading the Bible and understanding it, but perhaps it is not a matter of are we reading, so much as how we are reading!
The link to the resource mentioned...
https://billygraham.org/story/reading-and-understanding-the-bible/
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In the end, Belief in God, to be saving Belief, is actually very different than a general belief. We must understand what savsaving faith is and how it brings salvation to us daily! Which means deliverance and victory and maturing in holiness can come daily!
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Ok, we are begging your forgiveness and patience, an unplanned Friday Funday just took over! But, we did eventually get back to our study. In this part we discuss knowing what the right sort of belief looks like. There is a belief that is real but does not save. We want the kind of belief in God, through Jesus Christ, that is real and really saves us!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Does the suggestion that you might believe more in your belief than you believe in God bother you? What is the belief that saves? We know there is a belief which even the devils have, and that it is a genuine belief (James 2:19), so what sets apart the belief of the true child of God?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
This is a relevant and necessary question to consider. Why? The Bible presents us with the challenge. The psalms are filled with calls for the people of God to live God-centered lives with a Divine perspective on everything. We are to live with our minds and mouths full of God's words, works, and wonders. Yet, consider the conversations you hear at church on any given Sunday, in the foyer, in the pews, is it God-centered? If not, why? We want to explore the possibility that the reason we are not living this way is because many have more belief in their beliefs than they have belief in God Himself.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
In this reair from an August edition of Daybreak Devotions, we ask the question, could thoughts about God really be considered prayer? If so, then we need to consider how to turn our thoughts to God as often as we can so that we can be true to Jesus' instruction to "pray always" (Luke 21:36).
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
In this reair from an August edition of Daybreak Devotions, Pastors Mike and Corey discuss what is the most important thing we can do today? Arguably, the answer is "Pray." Arguably because of course to love is the fulfilling of the law, but to love God and to love others well we need a genuine and dynamic life of prayer. How then can we become more prayerful people? How can we learn to pray without ceasing? We must learn how our very thoughts of God are prayers offered.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
A life lived without fear - sounds great, but is it possible? Only through following Jesus' prescription of replacing fear with...love?
To be a recipient of God's love is not enough. One who has received such love has the responsibility to act in love. But what is it exactly we are supposed to do, and how do we go about doing it?
This topic sort of took over our broadcast, "What if you could only have three chapters of the Bible for the rest of your life, which would you choose?" An impossible question for sure, but it is a great spiritual exercise that everyone should try.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
As we watch the leaves turn to those deep colors and begin to fall, we see the beauty of the loss, but it is harder to apply that to our own soul. There are lessons in the fall, lessons in watching the trees turn loose of their leaves. It has to do with survival and ultimate renewal. There is no putting on the new without first putting off the old!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
In this first of a two part discussion, we talk about the divinely interposed lessons that the changing of the seasons bring to us. Every season brings change, but we especially notice it during Spring and Fall. One seems to be leading into renewed life and hope, the other into loss and even the death of winter. But we are learning that there is no putting on the new without first putting off the old!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We've likely heard all the cliche lines, "When you can't track Him, trust Him!" It is not that these are false, but they can feel so empty and misleading when you are literally in the valley of heaviness of soul. Yes, the heart must will the soul to move, but how? What does that look like when each step feels like an impossible task? We must wait!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We simply do not understand. We have questions, most of which start with "Why?" and "How?" What could we learn about the trials of life from a horse and a goat?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
In this first of a series, we begin to explore the reality of finding ourselves in a low place, a valley, which may best be described as heaviness of the soul. What are we to do? How do you make progress when you don't feel like it or think you can? This is a serious look a real life, but there is hope, there is a way through.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Fear is that which has our attention, awareness, and keen focus. Everyone fears something, the question is, where is your fear directed?
As a wrap up to this series from Romans 13, let's seriously consider the urgency of the hour and the devotion we are called to in pursuing holiness with Radical Removal and Superior Supplementation!
The act of sin itself, the engaging with the provision for the flesh, happens after several steps in the wrong direction, and guess where it all begins? That's right, a lack of love!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
The "provision for the flesh" begins long before the actual act of partaking in sin. It helps to step back and consider how we get to that point, and to understand what is really meant by "provision for." This simple acronym, T.I.P. (Temptation, Isolation, Provision) gives us a tool for praying against the pathway to sin.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
No spiritual attack is truly a "sneak attack." As followers of Christ, we should live with the situational awareness that we are under constant surveillance by the enemy of our soul and the attack is always imminent, as soon as the enemy sees a potential weakness to exploit. We should also not deceive ourselves about our weaknesses. Rather, we need to understand the threat and the way to resist it.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
So, how then do we learn to rejoice in our troubles? Moses was a man of wisdom, gleaned from years of walking with God and facing incredible trials. This model prayer offers us some helpful guidance in learning how not to rely on our own strength when adversity comes.
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The Exchange of Sorrow for Joy
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The Enlightenment of God's Sovereign Work
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The Establishment of God's Favor on Our Effort
There is a great resource referenced in this episode and the link will be placed below.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
This is the interview with Dr. Alicia Britt Chole...
Episode 487: Dr. Alicia Britt Chole on the Sacred Slow, the Gospels, and Honesty with God - Annie F. Downs (anniefdowns.com)
The ultimate purpose of our pain is to lead us into an understanding that our God is all we really want and need. There is a great resource referenced in this episode and the link will be placed below.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
This is the interview with Dr. Alicia Britt Chole...
Episode 487: Dr. Alicia Britt Chole on the Sacred Slow, the Gospels, and Honesty with God - Annie F. Downs (anniefdowns.com)
Adversity, trouble, suffering in our lives tends to lead us toward feeling cast down, heavy hearted, and anxious. That is the normal human way. But Moses prayed, "Lord, teach us to rejoice in every day of adversity! Help me to have a happy heart when my days are the most trying!" This is a theme throughout the scripture. In today's discussion we will introduce this truth from Psalm 90, setting up the follow-on discussion for next time.
Oh, and it is Friday Funday, so let's loosen up and laugh a little!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
As a child of God, I am called to separate from this world. To look differently, talk differently, act differently, and think differently. But what does that practically look like?
Everyone is extoling something. The question is, how long has it been since you've extoled God?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
How can we move away from living the Self-Life, dominated by besetting sin and discouraged heart, into living the Sanctuary Life, dominated by love of God and seeing the daily renewal of our soul?
How can we move away from living the Self-Life, dominated by besetting sin and discouraged heart, into living the Sanctuary Life, dominated by love of God and seeing the daily renewal of our soul?
"A house divided" will not survive, it cannot stand against the storms of life, to include the spiritual assaults of the enemy. But, a house divided is exactly how we feel when we are wrestling with besetting sins while also truly desiring to live holy lives. What can we do? Jesus makes it clear, we can clean up our act, clean out our closet, but only he can keep the house!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
If the glory of righteousness exceeds the glory of the law, how does that manifest in us when our hearts are turned to Jesus?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Could thoughts about God really be considered prayer? If so, then we need to consider how to turn our thoughts to God as often as we can so that we can be true to Jesus' instruction to "pray always" (Luke 21:36).
Write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com
McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
What is the most important thing we can do today? Arguably, the answer is "Pray." Arguably because of course to love is the fulfilling of the law, but to love God and to love others well we need a genuine and dynamic life of prayer. How then can we become more prayerful people? How can we learn to pray without ceasing? We must learn how our very thoughts of God are prayers offered.
Write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com
McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
This is a rare edition, a full-blown Friday Funday edition, with monkeys, scarecrows, and measuring sand to compare thoughts of God!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Hazarded their lives - "to give into the hands (of another); to give over into (one's) power or use". We have all placed our lives into someone's (or something's) power; the question is, what?
This Psalm is always convicting and encouraging. Reading the story of Israel and their back and forth between honoring God and forgetting God, it is a look into our own tendencies to live double-minded and forget God in our daily, hourly walk. There are four helpful thoughts to be lifted form this psalm, which teach us how not to forget God!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
What is this short psalm teaching in our day? There is encouragement and exhortation here. At the end of it all, we must know, remember, and promote the Superior Christ!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
This is the question, "How can I learn to keep my thoughts on God through the day, so as to be led by the Spirit in becoming the best I can be for the Lord?" This is the answer, "Intentional action (training) leads to a developed condition (practice); so, we must do what we wish to be until who we are is in truth what we desired to become."
Learning the way of holiness, walking in the path of the just, is a very intentional life. But we can learn it, and practice makes progress!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
As we think about the heart being central, being the object of desire for God, as well as for the enemy (though for very different reasons), we need to consider the role of the mind and the body in protecting our heart from being turned away from God.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Why this struggle with sin? Our true heart belongs to God in Christ, so, why then do we still find ourselves enticed by evil things? How do we find victory?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
This is a re-airing of our broadcast from April 14, 2023. We thought it would be a good reminder as we took a short sabbatical before returning to the studio.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
It's a Friday Funday edition! Plus, Friday Fitness Day as we explore some key principles Paul offers the younger pastor Timothy in this trememdous letter!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We can give our resources (time, talent, treasures) to self-serving matters, meetings, religious activities that funnel everything back to ourselves, or we can give all we are and all we have to reaching the world! While we sit in our camp meetings and rejoice in our good fortune, there are multitudes still without the hope of salvation.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Listen as Missionary Charlie Russell finishes out this great message about how God will send the suffering we need to help us get free of a religious system that is blocking us from Him!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
To close out our Way of Holiness 2023 Conference, Missionary Charlie Russell preached this great message in our Sunday Morning Service!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
There is real thing known as spiritual exercise, training of the soul in godliness. We commonly call it spiritual discipline, and Paul exhorts Timothy in the need and the reasons for it in this chapter. As we begin our Way of Holiness Conference, this text is particularly helpful in understanding the reasons why.
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Everyone is filled with something, or someone, everywhere they go. The question is, am I filled with myself, or with Jesus?
Why is Peter so emphatic about this? It is certainly one of the strongest starts to any New Testament letter, this whole "giving all diligence add to" teaching. Peter knows some things which we should keep in mind, anyone, that is, who wishes to be a profitable minister to others. As this passage, and our meditation in it, comes to a close, we consider three words which help bring it together; Incentive, Instruction, and Intention.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
This is it! The Pinnacle! What a thought, that we could become people who are so overcome with the divine nature that we are literally defined by agape! It is an amazing hope for our heart in Christ, and yet, it may feel so intimidating and, if we're honest, impossible. But here is the good news, God, the very essence and substance of agape, is already at work in you from the moment you trusted in Jesus, and he will bring this transformation about. Now, what can we do to partner with God in becoming people of agape?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Just how foreign to our modern society does this sound, “Brotherly kindness?" If we have doubted it, or just not seen it before, we have moved into that post-graduate level Christianity here. As those who are being transformed into the likeness of Christ, we are learning to love one another as he loved us, but it does help to like each other!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Look up the definition of godliness, trying to find a good way to explain it, and you will find this, "piety." Well, that does not seem to help much either. Godliness is something that we know when we are around it, but how do we explain it? In this episode we will try to offer some help in understanding this great quality of the divine nature, and how we can go about adding godliness to our steadfast, selfless, substantive, superior belief in God!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Patience? A lot of misconception and half truth circulates on this character quality. Many people hear "Patience" and begin to think about the person who can stand in line without complaint, or who can drive the speed limit and not be in a hurry, or the person who can put up with annoyances which drive everyone else crazy. And this is right, but it is not complete, as far as the Bible word patience goes. The divine nature of patience means, the capacity to stay under whatever the challenge is, and do so with cheer and hopefulness! We could all use that!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Do you struggle with self-control in any particular area of your life? Chances are very good that the answer is Yes! This is not child's play, as they say, but rather this is the mark or maturing in Christ, the recognition of our struggle with keeping the self, or flesh, under, but the desire to pursue true Christlikeness in every area of our lives, including the appetite, the tongue, and the mind. Furnishing our Substantive, Excellent Faith in God with true Self-surrender is helping us to take that next step in becoming the person in Christ we are made to be.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Now, we are becoming the person in Christ we are made to be. To our faith, the belief of God that guides our lives, we have added virtue, or excellence. We are pursuing faith that really stands strong, pursues God wholeheartedly, something more than a baseline belief. To this, we now add knowledge, the absolute knowing of truth by the act of having reasoned and tried our beliefs so that we no longer just agree to believe, but we now know what and why we believe it!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Knowing we are on this journey to becoming who we are made to be in Christ, it is time to begin putting forth that diligent effort to "add to," or supplement our faith with virtue. But what is this quality of virtue and how does it fit with our faith?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Before we dive into the actual process of adding to our faith, it will be helpful to consider the parameters Peter offers us in the first verses of 2 Peter 1. This will give us the groundwork for the becoming!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Let's look at this process of becoming which we are instructed in by the apostle Peter and elsewhere in scripture. Becoming is an action word, it is where God's grace meets our effort!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
With the AP on the scram and the sound system on the fritz, we are re-airing a broadcast from April of this year. What are you gonna do?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
As we wrap up this discussion on Spiritual Warfare, consider this, how might a biblically informed, prayer sought, clear and concise set of principles help you live as a spiritual warrior? Perhaps it is time to think through this spiritual exercise of developing a statement about how you will love as a solider of Christ's kingdom.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
David fought Goliath, King Saul did not, and the results were huge! Joshua and Caleb wanted to take the promised land of Canaan, but the other 10 spies said, "We can't handle the giants in that land!" It would be forty years before the nation of Israel got out of the wilderness. We must accept the reality of spiritual warfare and get in the fight. Many expend far more energy trying to avoid the conflict and in turn create a worse conflict for themeselves. When it comes to the work of Satan to divide, diminish, and depress the hearts of our people, we must take the advice of Wyatt Earp to Ike Clanton, "The fight has commenced. Get to fighting or get out of the way!"
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We've been given the call to become fishers of men. But what does that mean, and how do we prepare to do that?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Paul to the Galatians, "They are for themselves, with you as the price. I am for you, with myself as the price." The heart of every true pastor, missionary, Sunday School teacher, and witness for Christ in the workplaces and marketplaces, is revealed in this text!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Paul to the Galatians, having learned of their turn towards legalism and of their refusal to repent, “When I first came you loved me, you would have sacrificed your own selves for me, now, because I am holding firm to the truth and not agreeing to change, you are counting me as your enemy?”
Are we or are we not bound to the moral law of God’s word? Honestly, we can debate many things about the law given through Moses and where and when it applies and stops with regard to New Testament believers, but in the end, we have the words of Jesus as our guide.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Today we revisit the necessity of resilience in our lives. As Jesus was teaching the disciples about the way the world would be during the final hours of the last days, he tells them a story of ten bridesmaids who are awaiting the coming of the bridegroom, and there were five wise bridesmaids and five foolish ones. The distinction? The wise had enough oil to keep their lamps burning, and this is the picture of resilience which Jesus is telling us we need to take very seriously in these days.
Many will give up and walk away. Why?
How can the righteous stay strong and true in such trying and desolate times?
We must pursue resilience, learning to keep our lives filled with God!
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What leads to the loss of the excitement, thankfulness, and exuberance for the gospel, for the true ministers of the true word? In the Galatians eys Paul had been as "an angel of God," even as "Christ Jesus" himself, come through Paul. But now, he is as an enemy to them because he continues to preach truth and is not excited for their newfound false gospel which is sapping the spiritual life out of them and passing off a fake gospel that kills true liberty and frustrates the real grace found only in Jesus!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
"I am afraid for you," Paul writes, "Afraid that I have labored in vain, that after all this time and teaching you are going to turn back to the empty practices of religion and lose the liberty Christ has bought for you!" Those are heavy words from the heart of a minister who longs for these believers to stay true. We must not go back!
The resource mentioned in today's "Thursday Treasure Trove," is found at Positive News Stories & Inspirational Stories of Faith, Hope & Love (godupdates.com)
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We think this conversation is so rich and encouraging! If we can come to understand the reality of God's promise, we can truly live in the Radical Liberty that is ours in Jesus Christ.
If salvation is by faith, through the covenant given to Abraham, then why did we have to have the law of Moses? What role does it play, then and now?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
The law of Moses had a purpose, it was a necessary part of God's work of redemption, but it was not sufficient to save. What is the curse and how do we get out from under it? Also, Paul reminds us that there is something more precious to our eternal soul which predates the law!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Who are the really blessed people in the world? Paul tells the Galatians; it is those who are of faith! The faithful are the blessed! Why? Because they know that they are fully and freely received by God, not by their own merits or performance, but by the faith, righteousness, and obedience of Jesus Christ!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We finish out this week by, first of all, being back together for the program after a few weeks of altered schedules, and secondly, by sharing the topics on our heart as we return. Pastor Mike speaks to the upcoming Way of Holiness Conference and why a focus on Spiritual Formation is important. Pastor Corey shares about the very recent visit with our missionary in Costa Rica who is laboring to prevent child trafficking, rescue, receive, and restore young victims, by providing Hope, a Home, and a ministry of Holiness (Wholeness) in Christs' love.
For more information on Missionary Daniel Rojas and the work in Costa Rica, visit... Home | Thrive Vision
For more about the importance of spiritual formation you can get a copy of... The Mystery of Godliness: Barnette, Pastor Mike, Cantrell, Associate Pastor Corey, Russell, Charlie, Van Horn, Dr. Mike: 9798577988012: Amazon.com: Books
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Pastor Mike is joined by Dean Carmichael for this continued discussion on meditative prayer as a vital spiritual discipline.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Today we go back into the earlier part of the year and review this very important spiritual discipline of meditative prayer.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
As we wrap up the study on this topic we answer the relevant questions, including, what is the role of our works in terms of our salvation? And, after three episodes on this subject, why is it so relevant, what are the implications of the doctrine of justification?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Paul wrote many things about this core truth of the gospel and it has vital relevance to our faith today. We need to understand the doctrine of justification. What is it? How does it happen? What about the role of our works?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
For this Friday episode we are both back in studio and back in Galatians! The doctrine of justification by faith has been debated, contested, and denied since the earliest days of the church and it still goes on today. What does it mean? How does it happen? And what are the ramifications of this doctrine in our lives as Christians?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
The second coming is the source of hope for the child of God. Why is it, then, that it is often the most neglected and least thought of aspect of our faith? It is time that we return our focus on what Jesus directed for it to be - His final return!
The second coming is the source of hope for the child of God. Why is it, then, that it is often the most neglected and least thought of aspect of our faith? It is time that we return our focus on what Jesus directed for it to be - His final return!
Forgiveness is such a difficult, yet vital, aspect of our Christian lives. Why? The flesh loves feeling validated for how it responds to life. So what are we to do, and why is forgiveness such a big deal?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We know, it is easy to become swept up in the atmosphere of anxiety or frustration that is permeating this modern culture, and even more serious, it is easy to give in to the lusts which war against the soul as a means of escaping and seeking relief. The key to being true is to not forget God, and the way to remember God is to put into place a rule of life, a set of daily (yea, hourly) practices that keep is in the divine presence!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
In a continuation of yesterday's discussion, we talk how to turn spiritual resolutions into daily practices to keep us in the presence of the Lord!
We dip back to the beginning of Daybreak Devotions and January of 2023 to rekindle some of the spirit of renewal and anticipation for the New Year!
We likely all agree that the church could use revival, but what sort? One really great form of revival would be a revival of true joy in the Lord!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
We all have hard days, rough seasons, maybe even a trying life, but none of us will ever face more than Jesus, so how did he do it? He chose Joy! We can too, and we must.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Here we go! This is one of those passages that make people cringe, Paul is going to "get in the face" of Peter! But part of the discomfort that we may feel is due to reading this through our modern Western cultural lens. Paul actually gives us the right way to do conflict here and we can learn and apply this in our lives with the people we love and those we may not even like very much.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
There are extremely encouraging lessons from this section of Paul's letter. In the midst of the spiritual combat for the hearts of these young believers, Paul is able to express the value of confident humility which all believers can possess, as well as give us this "behind the scenes" glimpse into the affirmation and blessing exchanged between the "pillars" of the Jerusalem church and these new ministers from Antioch.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Paul seemed to always be fighting against the false teaching that threatened the church, and by default, he was always defending himself against the accusation of being a false teacher. What is the right way to take a stand when others are speaking against you? What is the motive that will give true endurance in the face of adversity and accusation? Paul gives us that in these early verses of Galatians 2.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
What does praying without ceasing really mean, and how does it look in our everyday lives? In part two of this special crossover from the CODE of Man, Pastor Mike and Pastor Corey discuss the ways in which we become people of constant prayer, and how we avoid the pitfalls of being negligent in our prayer.
What does praying without ceasing really mean, and how does it look in our everyday lives? In this special crossover from the CODE of Man, Pastor Mike and Pastor Corey discuss the ways in which we become people of constant prayer.
Paul's testimony about his calling is unique to him and yet, it reveals the ways in which all of us can discern God's specific call on our own life. In this episode we discuss the When, How, What, Why, and How of the Call of God from Galatians 1:15-16.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Can we know for sure what God is calling us to in life, and furthermore, what exactly is meant by God's calling? Each person has an individual call that God is placing on them, but it is up to each of us to learn to discern His voice? How do we do that?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Does it take more grace to be redeemed out of heathenism or out of religionism? Paul was a fiercely devout man of religion, but also the chief of sinners. Thank God that His grace is sufficient for the sinner in the back alley of Sin Town and the sinner on the front pew of the church!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
"Give Him the Glory," written by Evangelist Kurt LaBouve, is one of many songs available from this singer/songwriter. Check it out at...
Official Site of Kurt LaBouve – Preaching and singing for the glory of God!
As Paul begins to address the purpose of his writing he names, not only the shocking turn of the people to believing a false gospel, but he names at least four problems in this early church experience that we must still guard against in our day. The enemy is real and always at work. He does the most damage by bringing doctrine that looks, feels, and sounds closest to the truth.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
WARNING! This episode contains potentially controversial content concerning the way of salvation through, in, and by Jesus Christ alone. Galatians is a letter written by a fierce preacher who refused to frustrate the grace of God, or allow others to do so to the detriment of these young believers. Listener Discretion is Advised!
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Memorial Day is the time for Americans to reconnect with their history and core values by honoring those who gave their lives for the values and freedoms we cherish. More than a million American service members died in the wars and conflicts this nation has fought since the American Revolution in 1775 to fight for independence, to the ambiguous frontlines of the War on Terror today, still protecting liberty.
We in this country owe a great debt of gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives so that we can live free. We can start to pay that debt by not forgetting, and by remembering what the did and stood for.
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As we finish the week of discussion on how to treasure Christ in the heart we take time to answer a few questions that came up about this very important topic. But first, we have a little weekend news and fun for you!
The resource referenced in this episode is...
https://www.amazon.com/Life-Without-Lack-Living-Fullness/dp/1400208211/ref=sr_1_1?hvadid=580629419172&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9009613&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8507275920316536750&hvtargid=kwd-396877718855&hydadcr=8236_13500857&keywords=life+without+lack&qid=1685045048&sr=8-1
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There are two things to emphasize for the sake of encouraging one another:
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We truly want to live this way, as treasuring Christ above all else (we do, and you do).
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It is challenging for all of us because the world is vying for our most precious resource, our attention!
As a lead into this third part of the discussion on how to treasure Christ, we discuss these aspects of discipleship in a difficult world.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
It is a fair question, "How?" We may genuinely want to treasure Christ in our heart above all else, but how do we do this? The answer is not complicated; it is not magic, it is not super ascetism, it is not mystical, it is actually very down to earth, very practical, and very doable, but we must be intentional, and we must be willing, and the prayer of our heart must be like that of Asaph in Psalm 73:25-26, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Jesus tells us to "lay up our treasure in heaven." Why? Because wherever our treasure is, that is where our heart will be, and ultimately, that is his greatest interest, our heart! The greatest treasure our heart can hold is the loving, valuing, and desiring of Christ above everything else. But how can we do that? What does it look like to treasure Christ above all else?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
God has designed our heart to have a life of its own. It has desires, impulses, goals, and longings all of its own. What are we to do? Learn to allow the life of our good heart, given to us by God, to live out in every way through our lives!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
"This world demands a life saturated with God, and this world is the perfect storm to prevent our soul from having it." - John Eldredge, from Get Your Life Back (2020)
Is there a simple and sustainable way that we can live our lives saturated with the life of God? It would be most helpful in a world increasingly calling us away from life with God and distracting us from the most essential way we were designed to live.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
"This world demands a life saturated with God, and this world is the perfect storm to prevent our soul from having it." - John Eldredge, from Get Your Life Back (2020)
Is there a simple and sustainable way that we can live our lives saturated with the life of God? It would be most helpful in a world increasingly calling us away from life with God and distracting us from the most essential way we were designed to live.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
The attention of our heart is under constant assault. Our enemy knows that it cannot remove the good heart that has been given to us through Jesus, yet if it can be distracted, it is rendered ineffective. We must identify the ways that we are drawn to distraction, and intentionally "keep our hearts with all diligence."
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Our heart, in Christ, is good. Yet, Jesus warns about all of the evil that can proceed out of the heart (Matthew 15:18-19). So, what are we to make of this? We must learn to live out of the good heart and let it lead as it is led by our Good Shepherd.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Dallas Willard calls the heart "the executive center of the self." It is where decisions are made, and it is from the heart the rest of the soul will follow. When we let the heart, filled with God and his word, lead us, we will find our life in the right path and our soul resilient.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
It is a neglected and avoided topic in many circles of the church, or perhaps it has just been forgotten, but the life of the heart is absolutely essential. To live life to its fullest, to know full freedom in Christ, to live with joy, peace, love, and hope as daily realities, we are going to have to learn what it means to live from the heart.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
No one lived from the heart more freely and truly than Jesus. We are called to this sort of amazing living, but we need to find our true identity in our relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Jesus’ Obedience to God's Will (The Surrendered Life) is the result of his Confidence in his Identity (A Secure Soul), which came from his Relationship to the Father (The Son Beloved), and this drove his Loyalty to the Cause (The Steadfast Focus/Purpose). The linchpin to all of it, we believe, is the Identity which came from his truly devout and whole relationship with the Father. It may well be true that Christians are not living totally surrendered to God’s will, they are not steadfast in their focus, because they are missing that middle part, that secure identity.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
The very first words and the first scenes of Jesus' life which are recorded in the gospels give us this foundational truth about his devout and holy heart, he was completely given to doing his Father's will! Obedience, loyalty to the cause, which was so incredibly steadfast because it came from the security of his heart, a security he possessed through the deep relationship he had with God the Father. And guess what! We can have it too!
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
To become more like Jesus we pray, we ask for the transformation of our heart and the renewing of our minds. We also turn our attention to him; he becomes the object of our beholding. There are many ways to do that, but certainly by meditating on the heart of Jesus as revealed in the gospels, we can be "changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18). Today we look at the compassionate heart of Jesus.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
It's a Friday Funday extraordinaire as we welcome Deacon Dean back to the program for a little spirit competition in honor of the Star Wars theme of the week. Beyond the hype, what are the valuable Biblical truths which can be gleaned and applied from one of the most iconic and epic stories of our time?
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Not only by the testimony of scripture, but because of our experience of living in this world in this hour, we can understand that resilience of soul must be sought after and in order to have it we need to plan for it. Paul's prayer for the Ephesian church is a great place to start, he is, essentially, asking God to give them resilience (Ephesians 3:14-19). So, we begin there, with our quest to pursue wholeheartedness and live from the depths of our being with God, rather than in the shallows of the world.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Jesus, in Luke 21, assures his followers that we can secure our souls during the most turbulent of times (21:19), and then he gives clear instruction on how-to. Resilience is found in where we are looking. There are three points of focus we should give our attention to in order to live with resilience.
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
There is a great volume of material in scripture to warn us of the world's drain on our soul. Before we consider the ways to replenish our soul with God, we take some time in this episode to discuss the threats.
Write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.comMcLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
As Jesus was teaching the disciples about the way the world would be during the final hours of the last days, he tells them a story of ten bridesmaids who are awaiting the coming of the bridegroom, and there were five wise bridesmaids and five foolish ones. The distinction? The wise had enough oil to keep their lamps burning, and this is the picture of resilience which Jesus is telling us we need to take very seriously in these days.
Many will give up and walk away. Why?
How can the righteous stay strong and true in such trying and desolate times?
We must pursue resilience, learning to keep our lives filled with God!
Write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.comMcLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
This was not the end of the story, it was the beginning of the next chapter in the Greatest Story Ever! The promise Jesus had spoken of came, and this group of disciples would begin to turn the world upside down! As we consider the church's beginning we take notice of some valuable characteristics we need to pray to renew today.
Write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.comMcLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
The disciples return to Jerusalem and in these last verses of Acts 1 there are some gems of truth that can inspire us and motivate us to follow the example of these men and women who were ready to give all for their risen and ascended Lord!
Write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.comMcLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
After the ascension Jesus has returned to heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father, and Oh, what a difference it makes in these disciples! Why does this matter to us?
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As we are awakened and alerted to the reality that we may not be as effective and dedicated to the Great Commission, we then have to sort out what we can do to become faithful and to encourage one another. It is a huge discussion which will require a lot of follow on among our fellowships, but we can start here!
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This is the standing order from our Lord, to go, and preach, and baptize, and teach. It is what he prepared his disciples to do and it is what he still expects of us today. But how are we doing with this, as a church collective?
Resources mentioned in this broadcast...
Don't Hold Back: Leaving Behind the American Gospel to Follow Jesus Fully: Platt, David: 9780735291447: Amazon.com: BooksStatus-of-Global-Christianity-2022.pdf (gordonconwell.edu)Write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com
McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Jesus' final instructions before ascension are a summons to focus on what matters most! Witnessing is more important than knowing all of the "When's and How's" of eschatology; and the Kingdom of God is far more important than the little kingdoms of this world.
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We could not leave John 21 and the cookout by the sea just yet. Jesus has some compassionate but pointed work to do in Peter. It is necessary to dig down to the root of his sin and then lead him into renewal. Grace!
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Jesus would appear to 500 or so people during the 40 days between resurrection and ascension, but in no other recorded appearance do we have such a clear and transformative look into the heart of our Savior than in this cookout at the beach with the disciples! Here Jesus brings all the power of his resurrected life into the work of redeeming his discouraged disciple, Peter. From denial to restoration, in the end, Jesus is still the center of it all!
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The disciples had known Jesus for three years, but everything was changing now. He had died, been buried, but was alive again, and by his grace he was helping them piece it all together, opening their understanding, and they would never be the same! We too should be revolutionized in our soul as ambassadors for our risen Lord, but what would that look like in a culture like ours?
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After the resurrection Jesus spent forty days here on earth before ascending back to heaven and to the throne. What was he doing during that time? Largely, he was getting his team ready to go into all the world. From resurrection morning to the day of Pentecost was 50 days and during these eight weeks the disciples were being prepared for their next stage of the kingdom mission!
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In a final analysis of the Passion Week and Post Resurrection week, it becomes clear that one of the greatest needs of our life is to have a bigger heart for God! Would it not be good to have a greater capacity for more of God in our soul? What does that mean and what can we do to help this?
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The Temple, the Holy Place of the Holy God. It has always been a revered and sacred place. But now that the Lord has risen, where is His dwelling? Is it the building we so commonly refer to as "church," or is it somewhere more significant?
The Temple, the Holy Place of the Holy God. It has always been a revered and sacred place. But now that the Lord has risen, where is His dwelling? Is it the building we so commonly refer to as "church," or is it somewhere more significant?
In church history past, the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday was referred to as Holy Saturday. It has a very silent and somber feel. We wonder what was going on, and there is very little of scripture to tell us. What was the opposition up to? What were the disciples doing? And most of all, what was Jesus doing and where was Jesus during this Silent Sabbath?
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This day is a day of remembrance, which according to Jewish custom began at the Passover meal the evening before. As often as we eat the bread and drink the cup we remember, and we celebrate, and we give thanks for our Lord’s death on the cross (1 Cor. 11:25-26). We will not be as those who, like Pilate, try to excuse ourselves from any responsibility. “It was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished,” and I will glory in the cross of Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me with all of its sin and suffering and sabotage (Gal. 6:14).
This “Good Friday” is good because of the gospel of Jesus Christ. On the surface it may seem grim, and we are no allusions, it was ugly and awful, and Jesus endured it all for the joy set before him (Heb. 12:2), but in the end it is the most wonderful and beautiful story of love ever known in the world. Yes, God so loved this world that he crucified his son by the fierce hands and angry hearts of the world who hated him so.
This day closes with an empty cross and a sealed tomb. With grieving friends and sneering demons. But this story is not finished on this day. There is more…
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After an incredible evening of communion with the disciples it seems like everything begins to fall apart! We know this is all part of the plan and our Lord Jesus was always ahead of the trouble and had all things in hand. As we dive into this revolutionary night we can draw out particular emphasis of prayer which will help us stay focused as we move closer to Resurrection Day.
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Wednesday of Passion Week is like the eye of a storm, a period of brief calmness after Sunday to Tuesday, but things are going to ratchet back up with the betrayal by Judas. In the meantime, Jesus enjoys a celebration with friends and receives the extravagant worship of Mary.
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Sunday Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the shouts of "Hosanna!" On Monday he cleared the temple of the religious commerce and vain tradition. It was a day of Chaos into Restoration! Tuesday the conflict ratchets up as the religious elite confront Jesus, but he does not back down. The time for sparring is over, but in the midst of the drama and anger of the religious leaders, there is the tough and tender Jesus teaching his disciples and preparing them for what is to come! Tuesday is the day of Confrontation and Preparation!
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All this week we want to journey with Jesus through the final days leading up to his crucifixion and fix our hearts on learning from his example. Particularly, the incredible poise of Jesus in this week of passion. It is amazing to see how he will conduct himself knowing what is coming. How does he hold it all together? How does he focus long enough to...
-Spending time with Friends
-Continue teaching the Way
-Confront the False Religionists
-Then he is arrested, tortured, and killed.
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OK, we're going to be very upfront, this is a Friday Funday to beat the band, as we wrap up a great week and prepare to start fresh next with Passion week culminating in the celebration of Christ's Resurrection! But for today, we offer some perspectives on aging, living well, and enjoying life (in a lighthearted way).
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What is often called arrogance or self-centered audacity by the more timid souls, could actually be a genuine holy boldness which comes from confidence in God and his word. It can be offensive to some, but Jesus had it, Jesus promoted it, and Jesus was despised for it. You can almost hear the Pharisees, "Who does he think he is? He really has the unmitigated gall!"
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As we draw near the end of this series on Psalm 119 and The Way of the Devout Heart, we found ourselves reflecting on some motivations for continuing!
Resource mentioned...
Live Life to the Full - Dallas Willard | Renovaré (renovare.org)Write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.comMcLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
It would be almost unthinkable in our modern way to accept the strong conviction of this Psalm writer, a man who could make such a bold declaration of his faith in God and his word, "I have been faithful to your word! Lord, I now expect you to take my case and champion my cause!" How can you and I obtain and live in the same kind of boldness?
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What if the pursuit of the truth, of understanding God's word, was the most outstanding feature of your life? Here is a follower of the way of the devout heart who is living his life, building his schedule around, and placing all of his hope in one thing, the pursuit of the knowledge of God!
Resource Referenced in this Episode...Don't Hold Back: Leaving Behind the American Gospel to Follow Jesus Fully: Platt, David
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Learn more about our team at McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
When we are in the way of the devout, all of life will be centered on God's word. We learn to build our day on the priority of a constant directing and redirecting of our hearts to the presence of God. As this great psalm has shown us, a primary way we do that is by our consistent focus on the scriptures.
Referenced in today's episode:
Dallas Willard | Personal Soul Care (dwillard.org)
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Have you found life to be troublesome at times? Job sait it (Job 14:a), Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
So, what are we to make of the problems that seem to sometimes fill our days? Can we find some point to it all? In this episode Pastors Mike and Corey dialogue on why God allows these troubles, even brings suffering into our lives at times, and how we can move from "Oh my, what in the world!?!" to "OK Lord, bring on the pain!"
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How we can learn to live in an unfailing hope in our troubles and trials by being desperate for God above all else! The devout heart is driven to deeper life in God by the difficulties of life.
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We begin today's special episode with some good times and St. Patty's treats! How much do you know about the holiday? But more importantly, we take a look at the missionary work of St. Patrick and how we can be moved in our day to be seriously engaged with reaching the 5.7 million people who live in the "Unengaged Unreached People Groups," where no missionary, no gospel witness, has ever come! This is Jesus' earnest prayer request (Matthew 9:36-38).
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When the inevitable conflicts come, we must prepare for the reality of the toll it can take on our soul, and the temptations to give in to our weak flesh! The devout heart must learn to refuge in God's truth, to fall back to the safety of the stronghold of the word of God!
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Most of us would agree, we do not enjoy nor look for conflict, but it is going to find us. Particularly, as we walk in this way of devotion and holiness to God, we will find the unavoidable clash of wills with those who are not so inclined. How are we to handle this?
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We have said many times, intentions are good, but they are left empty without intentionality. In these verses the psalmist not only declares his resolve to live in obedience, drawing strength from God's word, but he gives us five ways he will intentionally pursue it.
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Those who are in the way of the devout, the way of holiness, are learning that there is only one sure way, one sure source of building spiritual muscle, and only one certain path to a true success in life’s purposes and callings, and that is tapping into the grace of God to obey His word! Now I could say, tapping into the power of the word of God, but it is also necessary to see how it is by the gift of God’s grace that we can learn to live in obedience to the truth and follow the design and order of His word.
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How can we truly live free in the liberty Christ has purchased for us? What does it mean to walk in the Spirit? We tackle some of these very important spiritual truths in today's episode.
March 10th is a Huge History Day! In this Friday Funday edition enjoy some News of the Weird and a special tribute to a Celebrity Brother!
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Paul said that we are to be intentionally diligent in pursuing the perfection of holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1). Jesus says we are to be perfect just as our Heavenly Father is (Matthew 5:48). Really! How? What are our helps in the pursuit of perfection?
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Every disciple should desire this and why would we not? Why not crave an ever-increasing separation from the world and the things which wreak so much havoc on our soul? Jesus says that it is when we hunger and thirst after righteousness that we will be filled (Matthew 5:6), all else is vanity.
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Hypnosis is defined as “a trancelike condition that can be artificially induced, characterized by an altered consciousness, diminished will power, and an increased responsiveness to suggestion.” Now, given that definition, watch us watching TV! See what we mean?
Where should we give our time and attention to? The Word of God! And what is the word of God? Psalm 119 tells us it is his teaching, his revelation, his discernments (judgments), his witness, his orders, his scriptures, his principles, and his expression of his heart! In a culture and society (church included) where people are losing their minds, we need to invest ours in the truth, deeper, richer, more completely.
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The faithfulness of God is forever! The unchangeableness of God is guaranteed! And this is comforting and encouraging news living in our modern world, especially given all the myriad of distractions we give away so much of our attention to. Just think of the chaos done to the soul by the 24-hour news cycle, the violent entertainment, and we are hearing and seeing the trauma and pandemonium from across the globe in real time! We need to talk this; how many hours of news and television and social media are we consuming? And how many hours of Bible and prayer, or in other words, how much of God are we consuming?
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The way of the Devout will require endurance in the trials of life. All too often, it will seem, we go through seasons of trials and afflictions. It may feel like we cannot survive it. The battle is on more than one or two fronts and we are stretched thin and feeling hung out to dry, like a bottle in the smoke! Yet, the Devout continue, they may be weary, but they win. How? What must we remember?
Resource discussed in today's episode:
The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions, Arthur Bennett, editor (1975).
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This is graduate level spiritual living! The journey of the devout and holy life is one defined by the word of God, in which we learn to be useful to others, submit to God's lead, and keep silent in the difficult pains of life. Needless to say, we are still being developed in these areas.
The resources referenced in today's episode were:
- The Imitation of Christ, Thomas a Kempis
- Streams in the Desert, L.B. Cowman
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McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
When we go through times of suffering it helps to remember that God's love for us is actually part of the purpose in our pain. Likewise, we should remember that we love God, and we trust him, never giving in to the lies and accusations of the enemy, who is likely trying to convince you that if you were truly a friend of God and a follower of Christ you wouldn't be in this mess! On the contrary...
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Every believer needs a theology of suffering. In this section of Psalm 119 we find guidance on how we can learn to suffer well, as devout followers of Christ who trust God's will.
We have discussed the need for constant course correction in our journey of holiness, and in this portion of the psalm we get a look at how we can fix our attention on our point of reference, the Word of God, and how we stay locked in even when the world is clawing and clamoring for our attention.
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When you begin to think of all the obstacles, the detractors, and the troubles which come at us in life! The list is quite long, and every implement of distraction, discouragement, and disfunction which the enemy of our soul can assail us with, make no mistake, he will launch it. Thank God for the continuous and unfailing source of scripture! The answer to all the afflictions, antagonisms, and angers of our life is “the word upon which (God) has caused (us) to hope” (v.49)! The psalm teaches us that our way must be defined by obedience and conformity to the word of God.
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For those who participate in Lent and for those who are curious about it, in today's episode we will look at three passages of scripture and three key words which will help us understand the spirit and intent of the Lenten Season. Through Repentance, Reconciliation, and Righteousness we can learn the meaning of this invitation to death of the self-life and the invitation to intimacy with the Shepherd. When we give our life, willingly lose it to be with him, we are identifying with his death and that is the way we enter into the resurrection life. We give up something for the express purpose that we create sacred space in our day or evening to be with Jesus more. To meditate on his suffering, to go to war with our own flesh, and to rise on Easter with him into renewed life with God!
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What is this thing called "Lent?" Perhaps you have heard of it, but maybe it is a taboo sort of, "We do not do that here," sort of thing. In today's episode Pastor Mike and Pastor Corey discuss the history, significance, and the practical application of the season of Lent for those who want to use this season as a time of true renewal, in drawing closer to God and making war on the flesh!
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One of the consistent themes found in Psalm 119 is the various pressures which comes against the devout heart who is traveling the way of holiness. The troubles of life which are common to all people are there, but along with that comes the unique struggles which rise from pursuing life with God in a world under the rule of Satan and evil. It is the adage of paddling upstream, going against the current, and if one is truly seeking the way of holiness that soul will be moving against the current of secular culture. Thanks be to God we have a resource of renewal in the word of God!
Today's recommended resources:
- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, by John Mark Comer (2019)
You can write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com. You can also learn more about us at McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
In today's episode Pastor's Mike and Corey discuss how those on the way of the devout heart will seek constant growth in their spiritual transformation into Christlikeness and sanctification for God's glory and purpose. Those in this way also learn more and more of their reliance upon the grace of God to help them live in true holiness.
Today's recommended resources:
- The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers, by Arthur Bennett (1975)
- The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis (15th century)
You can write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com. You can also learn more about us at McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
To those who are on the Way of the Devout Heart, spiritual warfare is a noticeable part of every day. Redirecting prayer, which is the intentional action resulting from an awareness of your present situation, is the key to overcoming the attack and living in victory. The blueprint is there in Psalm 121, and it all centers around shifting our focus to Jesus!
You can write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com. You can also learn more about us at McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Also, visit the website of Bruce Frye for more of his music and testimony at Bruce Frye Ministries - Singer, Songwriter & Evangelist | Online Christian Music and Book Store
True repentance, which is a way of life for those pursuing God, will bring change in the course of life. This is the God-inspired, God honoring change that we want. Since grace is not opposed to effort, what is our part? What can we do to make sure that we are getting this constant course correction and not deviating far off course? Psalm 119:30-32 offers us this counsel, Decide, Dig In, and Dedicate Your Life!
You can write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com. You can also learn more about us at McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
Also, visit the website of Bruce Frye for more of his music and testimony at Bruce Frye Ministries - Singer, Songwriter & Evangelist | Online Christian Music and Book Store
Dirfitng along is easy, but costly. Diligent pursuit is hard but rewarding. Those on the journey of the Devout Heart will find that constant course correction is a necessity in life. We all will experience some drift, but to be true to God we learn the power of confession and repentance.
Those in the Way of the Devout Heart do not view God's word as a past time, nor as a chore to be completed, nor as an obligation, but as their necessary food for the soul, as the staff of strength for the journey, as the shield against the enemy, and as the counsel against the soul's tendency to be cast down.
Contact us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com.
You may also find our other resources helpful:
McLeansville Baptist Church - McLeansville, NC
The Mystery of Godliness: Barnette, Pastor Mike, Cantrell, Associate Pastor Corey, Russell, Charlie, Van Horn, Dr. Mike: 9798577988012: Amazon.com: Books
As the study through Psalm 119 continues a prominent theme that arises in verses 17-24, and also a recurring theme throughout the Psalm, as well as throughout scripture, is that the way of the devout heart is one of total dependence on the word of God in order to live life fully for the glory of God.
You can find music from Dr. Scott Caudill and much more at Online Store - Scott Caudill (drscottcaudill.com)
We encourage you to contact us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com with your comments or questions.
In today's episode Pastor's Mike and Corey discuss how the character and traditions of the knights of years past, their virtues and mission, serve as an apt analogy of what it means to develop and live from a devout heart for God. And of course, it is Friday so there are some "important" matters to discuss in News of the Weird and This Day in History!
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Working through Psalm 119:9-16, Pastor's Mike and Corey discuss the Six Disciplines of the Devout Heart which help us develop our journey on this path of life with God.
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Why is this teaching and concept of The Way of the Devout Heart so important? A casual Christian life wherein we approach prayer and soul care as a negotiable practice will not produce the sort of soul endurance that Jesus very strongly admonishes believers to have as the end of the age draws near. Matthew 24:12-13 is a passage not to be taken lightly, and it is repeated Mark 13:13 and Luke 21:19. The question we need to be asking right now at this moment of history is, "What will build endurance in my soul?" The Way of the Devout Heart really matters.
The Way of the Devout Heart must be anchored in the diligent keeping of the word of God (Psalm 119:4). This is a most essential and primary goal for us, and yet it is incessantly opposed by the combined enemy forces of Satan, the world, and especially of our own flesh. We must become, and remain, men and women who are in this way, and from the first eight verses of Psalm 119 we learn three helpful characteristics of those who are traveling in The Way of the Devout Heart.
We welcome your feedback and questions at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com.
Everyone has a "way" in which they do life. What is your way? Psalm 119 is one of most amazing chapters of the Bible, 176 verses given to describing the indispensable role of God's word in directing our life's journey, our way! Really, it is about helping us align our way with God's way. This week we begin a journey of studying the 22 sections of this grand Psalm and discovering what we are calling The Way of the Devout Heart!
We welcome your feedback and questions at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com.
Welcome to the Friday Funday edition! Before we wrap up the discussion on the life of the Christian in the World, we take a "deep dive" into the legend (or is it fact?) of Groundhog Day! Then, once that is settled, Pastor Mike and Pastor Corey offer some wrap up thoughts on what it means to live victoriously in a secular culture ruled by Satan whose design is primarily to distract the hearts of men and women from knowing God and trusting Him completely with their lives.
If the world is enmity with God, what are the things we should be on guard to ensure that we aren't living on the wrong side of the line? Join Pastors Mike Barnette and Corey Cantrell as they continue discussing the topic of safely navigating being in the world, but not of the world.
The additional recommended resource in this episode is the Wild at Heart podcast series on the world, which can be found here https://wildatheart.org/rhplay/podcast/wild-heart/world-part-1
We welcome your feedback and questions at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com!
Original airdate: February 2,2023
What do we mean when we say "the world"? Is it possible to completely avoid "the world," or is it something that each and every person is going to face, every day? That's the topic of today's Daybreak Devotion!
We welcome your feedback and questions at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com!
Original airdate: February 1, 2023
How can a believer be surrounded by the pressures and distractions of the world, but not be overcome and derailed by them? Today, we review some of the lessons Pastor Corey learned during his time away with family, and some practices we can put into place each day to safely navigate our journey through this world.
We welcome your feedback and questions at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com!
Original airdate: January 31, 2023
Part of the great struggle of life is that at times it can seem the trouble comes from several fronts at once: multi-directional! We can barely get our mind around one assault before two more come from two other directions. If it is not the danger of predators, it is the discomfort of the elements, or the disturbance of pests, or even the distractions of the unimportant and inconsequential. When you get hit from all sides at the same time the natural tendency is to panic and then either freeze or run! We need the Shepherd!
Join Pastor Mike for a look into Psalm 23 and how we can learn the way of following the Shepherd of our Soul.
We invite your feedback and your questions which we may try to answer on a future episode! You can write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com.
We wrap up a week of focusing on developing our life of devotion and holiness by discussing the benefits of living the truths of Psalm 23. This is likely the most popular of all psalms and one of the most well-known and frequently used passages in all of scripture. Yet, too often it has been relegated to funerals and attached to the idea of death, and while there is comfort in these verse for such a time as that, this Psalm is first and foremost about life! It is about having everything one needs to make life completely wonderful and fulfilling. Dean Carmichael joins Pastor Mike again to talk through this beautiful, powerful song of the Shepherd's care.
But first, it is Friday! So, we need to have a little fun as we share a few laughs, learn about DNA testing of Santa Claus, and take a stroll down Mayberry history together.
We invite your feedback and your questions which we may try to answer on a future episode! You can write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com.
As one reads through the gospels there is a striking reminder of just how efficiently and effectively productive Jesus' life and ministry was and yet without him ever reaching that point of “burn out,” which we understand to mean getting to the place where we are living in chronic stress with feelings of ineffectiveness. Chronic stress, chronic irritation, and chronic feelings of having wasted one’s life can all be avoided and recovered from if we can look unto Jesus and follow his example.
While this may seem blatantly obvious, O how we struggle to do it! We are too easily distracted, so mentally and soulfully divided, and sadly, we are very often so kingdom of God disinterested.
A hymn that often comes to my heart as I read and meditate in the gospels…
“O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.”
We invite your feedback and your questions which we may try to answer on a future episode! You can write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com.
In this edition we close our discussion on the spiritual discipline of Meditative Prayer by walking through what Pastor Mike calls, "The Six Movements of the Heart." The six movements briefly stated are…
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Preparation (Ps. 16:8-11)
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Invocation (Ps. 25:4)
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Consideration (Ps. 19:14)
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Resolution (Ps. 119:27; Prov. 16:3).
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Benediction (Ps.106:1; 1 Chron.29:13).
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Reflection (Ps. 102:18; Prov. 20:5)
Meditation is a focus on the truth of God (his word and his works) which trains our attention and awareness so that we are growing in the knowledge of God and building resilience to be strong in the Lord. Meditation is a way to fill up the treasury of the heart and mind with truth. It is the very foundational work of the pastor (1 Timothy 4:13-16), and it is the groundwork of every believer to pursue the will of God and find God-honoring success in life (Joshua 1:8). It is so we can flood our soul with God and flush our soul of the world!
We invite your feedback and your questions which we may try to answer on a future episode! You can write us at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com.
Pastor Mike is joined by guest co-host Dean Carmichael for the continuing discussion on the role of meditative prayer in our spiritual formation. Particularly, the discussion centers on just why this is so important, and why making this a priority in the morning is extremely helpful to building a God consciousness in our entire day.
Resource Mentioned:
The Mystery of Godliness: Barnette, Pastor Mike, Cantrell, Associate Pastor Corey, Russell, Charlie, Van Horn, Dr. Mike: 9798577988012: Amazon.com: Books
In the heart of every true follower of Christ there is a power invested by the Holy Spirit, the power of true godliness. This power is given to us so that we might live the gospel, have power to witness for the kingdom, power to reflect the light, love, and life of Jesus Christ in a world gone utterly mad in its darkness and despair. The Mystery of Godliness is a compilation of the teaching conducted in a three-day church conference in August of 2020 at the McLeansville Baptist Church in McLeansville, NC. The purpose of the conference was to teach and experience what true godliness is...
1) Christ formed in our lives (more than imitation, but an impartation of His nature).
2) Discovering true holiness that is rooted in our deep love of God and walk with Him, not in our compliance with religious traditions or man-made rules.
3) To unlock the potential of spiritual disciplines that will develop godliness in our lives.
4) To prepare every Soldier of Christ for the reality of spiritual warfare, both the defensive and offensive postures, and how the above disciplines play a vital role. "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness" - 1 Timothy 3:16
To be engaged with lengthy times of prayer can seem like a daunting task - unless you understand that continuing in prayer is simply bringing yourself into the presence of God. Today, the conversation revolves around this very thing, what exactly is meant by meditative prayer?
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Why did Saul trust David to fight Goliath, and what was it about this unknown shepherd that caused him to acquire such a prestigious position in the king's court? The discussion today centers around this very thought, with some fun along the way, because after all, it's Friday Funday!
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No big I's, or little you's, God will use whom He desires. So, what then is God looking for in a vessel for His use? Pastors Mike Barnette and Corey Cantrell continue to compare and contrast the hearts of King Saul and King David, gleaning truths about what our lives should look like in order to bring God glory.
We welcome your feedback at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com!
When we read of men like David in Scripture, we could never hope to reach the level of spirituality they had, right? Today's discussion revolves around the premise that it's the heart of a man that separates him for God's use, not the physical traits he possesses. So what made David, David?
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One looked good to man, one looked good to God. What were the key differences? That's the topic of today's discussion!
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What caused Saul to fall from prominence to despair? It's the same trap we must all be on guard against - our flesh. Join Pastors Mike Barnette and Corey Cantrell as they discuss the turning point in the life of King Saul.
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Can someone truly know the will of God, much less live in it? Join Pastors Mike Barnette and Corey Cantrell in Part 3 of a 3 part series covering the ability to live life in the will of God.
We welcome your feedback at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com!
Can someone truly know the will of God, much less live in it? Join Pastors Mike Barnette and Corey Cantrell in Part 2 of a 3 part series covering the ability to live life in the will of God.
We welcome your feedback at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com!
Can someone truly know the will of God, much less live in it? Join Pastors Mike Barnette and Corey Cantrell in Part 1 of a 3 part series covering the ability to live life in the will of God.
We welcome your feedback at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com!
What exactly should you hope to accomplish in a Renovation Year? Pastors Mike Barnette and Corey Cantrell discuss what such a year would look like in their individual lives, and provide some guiding principles for seeking your own Renovation Year.
We welcome your feedback at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com!
Pastors Mike Barnette and Corey Cantrell are joined by special guest Cody Carden to discuss the importance of Epiphany, and ask the question, "Why do we do what we do?"
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Join Pastors Mike Barnette and Corey Cantrell as they discuss how true spiritual resolution will yield a life lived Practicing the Presence of God.
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Pastors Mike Barnette and Corey Cantrell discuss Spiritual Resolution from Psalm 91.
We welcome your feedback at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com!
Pastors Mike Barnette and Corey Cantrell introduce the Daybreak Devotions program, and what to expect from each broadcast.
We welcome your feedback at daybreakdevotion@gmail.com!