Be Devoted Ministries

WHERE OUR FUTURE STANDS UNDER SOCIALISM

2020-11-13T21:32:00.000-08:00

I read an article this evening, which made me think. It told about a man in Italy who was fined 300 euros for kissing his girlfriend outside her apartment and not wearing a mask. This article shows just how the left will use the pandemic to rule our lives. Just look at California, Chicago, and New York State. They either want to cancel “normal” Thanksgiving, the most Christian, and interracial holiday we have in these places. Or they are going so far as to tell you to have to wear your masks on in your own private house. Bizarre!

But, folks, if you voted for the Biden/Harris ticket, this is only a picture of things to come. They could use every virus and sickness to shut down, not just businesses, but to shut down the places of worship and dictate what can happen in our private homes. We already know that high-tech is listening into our conversation at home, what keeps the Government from tapping into that resource? Can anyone say 1984? Maybe the foreshadowing of Anti-Christ?

If you vote socialist (Biden/Harris) without thinking through what you are giving up and forcing the rest of us to give up, you are part of the problems to come. If Biden pulls this out and on January 20th takes the oath to office, I don’t want to hear how wrong Trump was. Or how bad he made it. At that moment, you own it! It’s yours! And it will only get worse under Biden/Harris.

Mark my words, if this vaccine doesn’t make it to the American public before January, Biden will have it halted or shipped to other “less fortunate“ nations while our seniors and infirm suffer. This pandemic will continue, and we will see several long hard winters. The economy will bog down in regulation and political meandering. China and other socialist nations will receive back the factories and businesses that moved back home under Trump. Your jobs will disappear. And blood will continue to be shed in abortion clinics as another generation of people gets whipped out. Many of those unborn are black or Hispanic because the abortionists are the truest racist in the nation. But, that doesn’t matter as long as the “MeToo” “Cancel Culture” gets what they want. And to boot, they will tell you how to live your lives, think, and what to believe.

If the Republicans hold the Senate and in two years take the House while showing some Constitutional backbone, we might see some daylight. It will still be challenging, but it has to happen. We survived eight years of one of the worse Presidents in history under Obama, and we can do it with a weak-kneed demigod like Biden and an unsure lying adulterous like Harris.

Be assured that this will not happen all at once. No, they will attempt to treat us as has been done for the last 100 years. They will experiment on us like a frog placed in water with the heat slowly turned up until it is boiled alive. The difference now is the Socialists will turn it up to a greater degree.

If you want to know how our healthcare system will work under the socialist mentality, look at the VA. A few years ago, those in this system were not allowed to go outside of it except under the most extreme circumstances. Today, while still limited, there is more freedom afforded to them. Yet that system moves like molasses on a cold, snowy day.

The Socialists are making a questionable election a mandate like they did in 2010 when we got the (“less than”) Affordable Care Act or ObamaCare. Again, we don’t need weak-kneed, get along to keep along, spineless invertebrates called Republicans. We don’t need the Mtit Romneys, who merely took the place of the Jeff Flakes of the world. We need real men and women filled with courage and passion who don’t want to make a deal but want to help the forgotten middle class and provide opportunities for the lower-income through free enterprise. Trump attempted this by providing “Opportunity Zones” in urban areas.

It will take all of us to do the heavy lifting every day. We will need to sacrifice, not for the sake of the greater good, because that is the claims of Marxism. No, our sacrifice will be for the sake of our children and our children’s children. We will need to do it as an act of worship to the God who allowed this nation to be founded.

We will need to do it to honor those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefields of the past starting in Lexington/Concord and even now are falling in some unknown, God-forsaken village in a battle we may never hear mentioned. And it will need to be public. All we ask is that those who represent us stand firm when necessary—affording us the freedom to plant our churches without governmental interference. Allowing us to build our businesses without being taxed to no end, own our homes without being told where we can live, and have an educational system in place which teaches rather than is concerned about outcomes.

My prayer is this: “God, give us grace. God, send Biblical revival to Your churches. God, raise as leaders, young men, and women, who care for Your word, our Constitution, and the need for Christian Western civilization’s resurrection. Please allow them to lead with passion mixed with wisdom.

Help us who have fought these battles in the past show grace, courage, righteousness, strength, and faith to face the Enemy himself who makes claim to this world You created and has replaced You loving will for our lives with a system which carries people off into the bondage of lies and drags them to Hell. God, give us as Christians the desire to make Your gospel known and to disciple our children, grandchildren, and their friends in Your truth so that they may follow You with hearts of fire and conscience which are not seared by sin, but will have minds who are brought into alignment with Your will. Lord, grant us grace, forgive us of the 70+million we have allowed to be murdered through abortion, and bless Your servant a positive answer to this prayer. I pray this in the name of Your mighty resurrected Son, the Lord Jesus Christ-Amen!”

God help us all. To quote Martin Luther, “Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. God help me. Amen.” “Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise.”

Steven Swaim

Please e-mail me if you would like me to come to speak to your group or preach at your church: stevenswaim@bedevotedministries.com

Make sure to place "Speaking Engagement" in the subject line.

Feel free to share

Click here to purchase my book Walking Faith: Journey from Then to Now through James

Impacts Intent Romans 1 8 15

2019-03-03T19:26:00.001-08:00

This sermon was preached by Steven Swaim the church planter to Fate/Royse City TX. It was preached at Friendship Baptist Church in Mesquite, TX on February 24, 2019, for World Missions Sunday.

If anyone would like to support our efforts in starting up a church in Fate/Royse City please make your donations to Friendship Baptist Church and mark it for Impact Baptist or Fate church plant. They will deposit it correctly.

The address is Friendship Baptist Church 820 Pioneer Rd Mesquite TX 75149.

IMPACT BAPTIST CHURCH-Making disciples using Christmas

2018-12-19T19:01:00.002-08:00

My latest message about how to make disciples for the Lord Jesus Christ by using the most common Christmas symbol.

https://youtu.be/Pg9VYkfxIuU

IMPACT BAPTIST CHURCH-What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

2018-12-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

https://youtu.be/f7HH0vdL0F4

THANKFULNESS-THE MARK OF BEING FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT

2018-11-22T08:15:00.000-08:00

EPHESIANS 5:15-21

¹⁵Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of your time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; ²⁰always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; ²¹and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Paul has been talking about a life and church that is filled with the Spirit in this passage. Verse 18 has been the key verse, the idea of being overtaken by the desires of the Holy Spirit and not those of this world. In its contex, a person who lives a Spirit-filled life is one who lives life for the sake of redemption while reflecting the character of God (vv. 15-17). But that is not all that Paul discusses. He also points out that if the lives of the individual Christians are focused on a Spirit lead life, so will the local church. That church will be filled with the singing of the psalms from the Old Testament, hymns that teach and communicate our faith in Christ, and spiritual songs that talk about all that God has done for us personally through Christ (v. 19).

Another earmark of a church filled with individuals who are filled with the Holy Spirit is thankfulness. Paul pointed out in 5:4 that thanksgiving is very important to the Christian in life and the preservation of godliness. God created us to be people of thanks, giving Him praise. After all, it is no small thing that Christ has done on the cross.

Now Paul brings this to a deeper level. Thanksgiving is a part of a Spirit-controlled life. Being thankful shows a life immensely focused on who God is, what He had done for us in Christ, and how He is working in our lives today.

Yet Paul is not satisfied with this discussion to stop here. He places the conversation in light of not only the Spirit-filled life but that of the life of the local church as well. A Holy Spirit led church may not be one who has a huge service, great programs, or the most inventive way of doing things. Insted, it will be a church filled with graciousness toward her Lord.

The key word here is “always.” We all have a willingness to be thankful at times. Yet the Holy Spirit impressed on Paul to use this word. We are to “always” be thankful! It is an imperative for the Spirit-controlled life. A person giving constant thanks to God, through the Lord Jesus is going to be one who is filled with the Spirit. The same is true of the local church!

Therefore, it would be logical to assume that thanksgiving would be a natural form of evangelism. In a thankless world, thankful people are unique! So rather than focusing on our next big church campaign maybe we should focus on what Christ has done for us through His cross and His resurrection. And through thankfulness tell others, making disciples for Him. In Colossians 3:17 Paul notes “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

Lessons

-Thanksgiving is the results of a Spirit-controlled life.

-Thanksgiving is imperative to the Spirit-focused church.

-Thanksgiving has a high value of evangelizing the world.

Let me know what you think,
Steven Swaim
Founding President, Be Devoted Ministries
Church Planter, Impact Baptist Church Fate/Royse City TX

Please check out my book Walking Faith: A Journey from Then to Now through James:
at Xulon Press
https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781545600542
or Amazon.com

THE CHALLENGE OF THE ENEMIES IN OUR LIVES

2018-01-15T19:34:00.002-08:00

(2 CHRONICLES 20:1-19)

Now it came about after this that the sons of Moab and the sons of Ammon, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat. ²Then some came and reported to Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, out of Aram and behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar (that is Engedi).” ³Jehoshaphat was afraid and turned his attention to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ⁴So Judah gathered together to seek help from the Lord; they even came from all the cities of Judah to seek the Lord.

⁵Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord before the new court, ⁶and he said, “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You. ⁷Did You not, O our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? ⁸They have lived in it, and have built You a sanctuary there for Your name, saying, ⁹‘Should evil come upon us, the sword, or judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before You (for Your name is in this house) and cry to You in our distress, and You will hear and deliver us.’ ¹⁰Now behold, the sons of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt (they turned aside from them and did not destroy them), ¹¹see how they are rewarding us by coming to drive us out from Your possession which You have given us as an inheritance. ¹²O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You.”

¹³All Judah was standing before the Lord, with their infants, their wives and their children.

¹⁴Then in the midst of the assembly the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, the Levite of the sons of Asaph; ¹⁵and he said, “Listen, all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s. ¹⁶Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley in front of the wilderness of Jeruel. ¹⁷You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the Lord is with you.”

¹⁸Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. ¹⁹The Levites, from the sons of the Kohathites and of the sons of the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

When The Enemy Closes In

There are times in our lives when we all feel a bit overwhelmed. Like the whole world is closing in on us and the enemy is marching into our lives unannounced, unprovoked, and in force. At that moment there are one of four possible responses: panic, shoulder up to meet the challenge head on, become withdrawn, or turn to Someone greater than ourselves for help. This passage we are about to look at is an example how we should respond

A Kingdom Under Attack

Jehoshaphat was king over Judah when they came under attack by three separate nations which, for whatever reason, decided to ally against them. What makes it more shocking is that these were nations who were considered kindred people: Moab, Ammon, and Edom. Moab and Ammon where the children of Lot (the nephew of Abraham) and his two daughter’s unrighteous sexual encounters found in Genesis 19:30-38. Edom was a nation developed from the children of Esau the brother of Jacob in Genesis 32:3 and 36. In his prayer before the Lord, Jehoshaphat points out in verse 10 that Israel was forbidden to drive out these nations by God according to Numbers 20:17-21. Even though, through the years these nations had been brought under subjection by different Kings of Israel, there was never an attempt to drive them out. So one can see the shock and surprise of being attacked with the sole purpose of destroying them.

The other thing to see is the complete size of these armies! They were not coming with a small force. In fact verse 2 notes, “…‘A great multitude is coming against you…’” At this point in history Judah stands alone against them. The nation had been split because of the unrighteousness of Solomon and his son according to 1 Kings 11:29-40 and 12:1-20 as well as 2 Chronicles 10. The northern kingdom of Israel was severally weakened at the defeat of Ahab her king and the overthrow of its administration by Jehu in 2 Chronicles 18:28-19:3. At this point there is no one to turn to for help in this world.

The Panic

It would be amiss for any of us to assume that panic did not enter the heart and possibly the population at the revelation of what was occurring. Verse 3 notes that Jehoshaphat was afraid, as would anyone. Where does he turn? What should he do? How should he handle this situation? The one thing we can say about this king was that he did not shoulder up thinking if he just mustered up enough men and if their strategies were smart enough they could defeat this invasion. The other thing he did not do was withdrawal. He did not attempt to run and hide from the situation. Being the good king that he was verse 3 reveals that even though he was afraid, he “…turned his attention to seek the LORD…” Just to be understood, he alone did not do this, but this was expected to be done by everyone in the kingdom.

The Action of Turning to Yahweh

Verse 3 clearly states that Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast, therefore the call to seek Yahweh’s face is made. Verse 4 shows the concern of the citizens by them assembling in Jerusalem at the temple to seek the face of the LORD, together. They understood the gravity of the situation and knew, as did their king, that they as a nation could not overcome this combined foe alone. They needed help and it was not coming from any other source.

The Prayer of Confidence

Jehoshaphat’s prayer is intriguing. He is not ignorant of his history, the scriptures, the character of God, or his position in this time of difficulty. His prayer shows depth of knowledge from the Scripture and humility. He proclaims who God is, who they are in His sight, and what He has done for them. With no restraint they beg for help from Him. (vv. 5-13)

God’s Revelation

This time of prayer and humility brings revelation from Jahaziel a prophet of God and family of the Levitical order. The word of God to the people is three fold: 1) the enemy is not to be feared (v. 15a), which was a promise made to Joshua in Joshua 1:7-9 when he was preparing the nation of Israel to take the land; 2) the battle belongs to the Lord (v. 15b); and 3) they needed to go out and face the enemy in order to see what God was about to do for them (vv. 16-17).

The Correct Response

If this moment were to be Americanized on film there would be a great uprising and call to arms. But, this is not America, it is Judah and their response was as it should be, an act of deep worship of this great God. Verses 18-19 bring out that they worshiped in prayer and in song. They had sought God, God had answered, and now they were thankful for His grace shown to them.

Lessons

· Great enemies will raise up against us and often in great number from unexpected sources.

· We should seek God when our enemies stand against us.

· We should be prepared to hear a word from God when we seek Him.

· When we hear from God we should worship Him for His great word.

· God will do the fighting for us.

· Extra thought: Maybe if we followed this way of living and worship in our churches we would hear more from God.

Please contact me with any speaking engagements please contact me contact me at:

StevenSwaim@Bedevotedministries.com

For more insight from the Bible pleased visit http://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore to order my book Walking Faith: A Journey from Then to Now through James

to purchase my book

EXCERPTS FROM WALKING FAITH: A JOURNEY FROM THEN TO NOW THROUGH JAMES

2017-06-22T07:59:00.001-07:00

Part 3

In the introduction of my book Walking Faith I discuss four major views of dealing with suffering. Here is an excerpt from my book dealing with the third view.

“The third school of thought is called hedonism. Hedonism means to disregard any and all forms of misery. This is done by ignoring it through complete pleasure. This pleasure is sought through a variety of outlets, such as alcohol, recreational use of illegal drugs, or illegitimate forms of sexual activity. It can also appear through other forms of passing the time, both those that are considered socially acceptable and unacceptable. The idea is simple: don’t worry, be happy.”—Pg. xviii-xix

My question to you today is, what are you doing to relieve yourself of the issues at hand? Are you using alcohol, sex or drugs? Maybe you have a tendency to work into the night hoping to get a head financially? Or you might watch more entertainment then what may be considered healthy? Have you ever stopped to think that what you need is someone to walk with through the pain? Take a moment, open your Bible and pray. While it may not change the circumstances, it may change your perspective. Please check out my book Walking Faith: A Journey from Then to Now through James for helpful insights from God’s truth. You can find my book at xulonpress.com or the kindle version at amazon.com.

His Servant,

Steven Swaim

President/Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

I can be reached at StevenSwaim@BeDevotedMinistries.com for speaking engagements or book signings. Please place speaking engagement or book signing in the subject line. In the body give the date, location, and a phone number to reach you.

EXCERPTS FROM WALKING FAITH: A JOURNEY FROM THEN TO NOW THROUGH JAMES

2017-06-21T13:12:00.001-07:00

Part 2

In the introduction of my book Walking Faith I discuss four major views of dealing with suffering. Here is an excerpt from my book dealing with the second view.

“The second school of thinking concerning suffering is that nothing can be done about it; therefore, we should not attempt to help those who are suffering. This can be a form of nihilism. Nihilism is a philosophy that is so negative that it encourages suicide if the situation appears to be inescapable…life and suffering are meaningless…The first school of thinking (socialism) is so outward focused that it ignores the inward condition of humanity, this thinking discounts any outward focus at all. Some forms of Hinduism fall into this particular perspective.”—Pg. xviii

My question to you today is, are you allowing your situation run, and therefore ruin your life? Where is your focus? Are you focused on yourself and what you can do? Or are you focused on the God of eternity who, through Jesus Christ will walk with you in your difficulties? Please check out my book Walking Faith: A Journey from Then to Now through James for helpful insights from God’s truth. You can find my book at xulonpress.com or the kindle version at amazon.com.

His Servant,

Steven Swaim

President/Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

EXCERPTS FROM WALKING FAITH: A JOURNEY FROM THEN TO NOW THROUGH JAMES

2017-06-20T08:42:00.001-07:00

Part 1

In the introduction of my book Walking Faith I discuss four major views of dealing with suffering. Here is an excerpt from my book dealing with one of those views.

"There are four schools that often permeate our culture regarding suffering. The first is socialism, which seeks to end suffering. Buddhism also teaches this perspective. Socialism presents the idea that suffering can be – and eventually will be – eliminated. The general conviction of socialism is that this will be accomplished in time through science, art, philosophy, politics, and human nature. Socialists believe these things will meld together to erase the troubling problems of life. Social programs are created within the idea of abolishing suffering…Though they may help good people, the do not truly equip the individual to properly deal with life’s issues.”—Pg. xvii-xviii

The question I have for you is what are you trusting in when you go through hardships? God and His word, the Bible, gives us deep insights regarding our lives on Earth and in eternity. Please check out my book Walking Faith: A Journey from Then to Now through James for helpful insights from God’s truth. You can find my book at xulonpress.com or the kindle version at amazon.com.

His Servant,

Steven Swaim

President/Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

NEW BOOK-WALKING FAITH

2017-05-04T19:17:00.001-07:00

News On "Walking Faith"

2017-03-07T19:23:00.003-08:00

Headline: Dallas, TX

March 7, 2017

My book Walking Faith: A Journey From Then to Now Through James has been handed to the publishers, Xulon Press, for work on the cover. It is expected to take two weeks then will be handed to me for review. After that it will begin to go into production. It appears to be on the march toward sometime around June for publication. There are several organizations that will benefit from this publication, they will be announced later. Please, keep an eye out for this insightful book.

Thank you,

Steven Swaim

President & Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

I can be contacted for pulpit supply, revivals, or speaking engagements at StevenSwaim@BeDevotedMinistries.com. Please place "Speaking Engagement" in the subject line. Your number, the date of event, and the purpose of the event should be in the body of the e-mail. I will contact you to discuss payment for event.

BEING GLAD IN THE LORD

2017-01-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

Introduction

Orson Well’s movie Citizen Kane is a story about a man who climbs the ladder of upper society. His search is always for happiness. At the very end, despite all of his gain in wealth, he leaves behind everything and nobody to give his possession to. What he did leave behind were ruined relationships, angry people, and a world full of stuff that is of no use to anybody. So what or who is it that gave Citizen Kane the greatest happiness? What or who is it that made him glad? In this story of tragedy only one person or thing gave him gladness…Rosebud. I will not tell you who or what Rosebud was, because I want you to see this movie, but it (or they) were the only thing that gave him any happiness.

We all have Rosebuds in our lives. A moment that we look back at that brings a smile. That thing that we may even still have in our possession that reminds us of a happy moment in life. Or a person who knew how to bring a smile to our face. We all have Rosebuds. However according to this Psalm there is only One who can bring real gladness to our hearts.

Review

Last week we answered the question, “What do you meditate on?” In that brief discussion we saw that the meditation was filling our lives with thoughts on the scriptures and how that God could use it to work in our lives. It was something that pleased Him because it was committed to Him in thought and life. Today I want to look at this continuation of the four things we can do to make 2017 a much richer year.

There is Nothing Wrong with Being Glad

We live in a society of extremes. On the one hand there is the more liberal influence that does not want any of us happy. From their view if we are glad then we are artificial and uncaring. On the other hand there are those of a more materialistic finding that feel there things and people should bring us the needed contentment. The extreme of this is called hedonism where pleasure is sought after for exhilaration. But is it wrong to be glad about something?

If it were wrong to be glad about things then the Bible would not mention it in a positive light. However this gladness is viewed in a different way than the world may view it. There is something else that is communicated.

The KJV and NIV both translate the word glad as “rejoice.” In the Hebrew the word being used אֶשְׂמַח (asmh) which can also mean “to be merry.”[1] As it was in the first half of this verse regarding meditation, there is something or someone with whom this glad rejoicing of merriment is to occur. It is the Lord in whom this happens. The idea of “in the” is that of a relationship. If someone does not belong to the Lord they cannot rejoice in Him. Without a personal connection of knowing what pleases Him in our meditations there is no true rejoicing.

What Are We To Show Gladness For?

The short answer to this question can be found in Philippians 4:4-8. Paul encouraged the Philippian believers in Philippians 4:4 to, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Paul’s admonition mirrors that of the psalmist. This rejoicing is to be done always, it is an expression of joy over and over. Again it is to be done “in the Lord” meaning that a relationship is necessary in order of this to happen. That relationship can only come through Jesus Christ.

The second thing we see is from verse 5. We are to rejoice in light of the fact that the Lord is present in our situation, “Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.” The idea of a gentle or spirit controlled person who rejoices is done because of the assurance of God’s involvement in our lives.

The third thing is seen in verses 6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We are to rejoice in prayer despite what is going on around us. We can do this because in confidence we can take our concerns to the very Lord who is involved in our lives. Gladness does not ignore the circumstances, rather it acknowledges God’s intervening power. Regardless of how He intervenes, gladness is matched with peace which guard’s the heart during the time of difficulty.

Finally, we see from verses 8-9 that gladness in the Lord is found in what we think about. Or better what we meditate up on, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Paul states that the key is to keep our minds on things that honorable, right, pure, lovely, of good report and that encourages praise toward the Lord.

Charles Spurgeon put it best, “Live in the light of your Lord, and let your soul always be ravished with His love. Take in the nourishment which this portion yields you. Live up to your privileges, and rejoice with unspeakable joy.”[2]

I think that quote sums up being “glad in the Lord!”

NEXT WEEK: LIVING A LIFE OF BLESSING THE LORD DAILY

His Servant with You,

Steven Swaim

President & Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

If you have any speaking engagements in which you would like for me to speak, feel free and contact me at StevenSwaim@BeDevotedMinistries.com. Please place “Speaking Engagement” in the subject line. I will need a contact phone number, date of the event, and the place in which I will be speaking. All other arrangements will be made when contact is initiated by me.

Look for my book Walking Faith

[1] http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt26a4.htm

[2] Charles Spurgeon, Mornings and Evenings- Evening, "Serve the Lord with gladness” Psalm 100:2

WHAT DO YOU MEDITATE ON?

2017-01-07T00:16:00.000-08:00

Let my meditation be pleasing to Him;
As for me, I shall be glad in the Lord.
Let sinners be consumed from the earth
And let the wicked be no more.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
Praise the Lord!

Psalms 104:34-35

Introduction

When the word meditation is used what do you think about? Do you think about a person who sets with their legs crossed and arms spread straight out touching their knees with their middle finger touching their thumb while humming? Or maybe you think about someone in another position with an instructor repeatedly telling them to empty their minds while focusing on nirvana. If any of these or a variation of them is what you think about you are not thinking about what the Psalmist meant, or what any other Biblical writer meant by the use of the term “meditation.” What you are attributing to the Scriptures is Hindu, Yoga, Buddhist and other forms of Asian cultist thoughts.

The Biblical View of Meditation

So what is Biblical meditation? And how can it affect our lives in the year 2017 or at any time in our lives? The term “meditation” is used twelve times in the book of Psalms.[i] The word “meditation” used here and in other places in the Psalms is שִׂיחִי (siyach {see'-akh}) which means to contemplate[ii] or to repeatedly think about. In other words there is a deep contrast between the idea of emptying yourself of something as Yoga teaches and thinking repeatedly or contemplating something over and over as the Biblical writers are encouraging.

So how important is it to meditate and what are we as Christians to meditate on? First, since this term is brought up more than once in the Psalms I would say it’s pretty important. And given the number of writers in the Psalms would make this even more pronounced. Right from the start the Psalmist notes the need for meditation, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” (1:1-2). The importance is declare at the very first.

But this meditation is not just about anything! Look at the passage, “Let my meditation be pleasing to Him…” The word used for “pleasing” in the NASB is translated as “sweet” in the KJV. It “…is usually rendered ‘pledge’ or surety’ and carries the idea of a mortgage.”[iii] In other words this meditation is a commitment not just something that is randomly done when the moment strikes.

A hard look at this Psalm gives us a very strong indication of what the writer was contemplating. It also gives us some very good insight that while Eastern meditation habits teaches us to get rid of the negative in our lives, the Bible teaches us not to ignore the negative. Rather to deal with the crisis by meditating on the Person and work of God in our lives. Let’s look and see what the Psalmist meditated on:

1He meditated on the majesty of God (vv. 1-4)
He meditated on the creation of the world by God (vv. 5-9)
He meditated on the provision of God to every part of creation (vv. 10-23)
He meditated on the work of God in creation (vv. 24-30)

It was meditation that was pleasing to God, because it was committed to thinking about what God had done in light of properly think about who He is.

This leads us to our final thought:

What Should We Meditate On?

I reiterate that Biblical meditation does not mean to ignore the negative that maybe going on in our lives. Rather it seeks to find the answer to three key questions while concentrating on the Person and work of God through Jesus Christ in our lives. Over the last several years, while going through one situation after another, I lost track of my purpose in what I was going through. I forgot about these questions. I began to ignore God’s purposes and allowed myself to start to move toward the dark places in my mind and heart. Through thinking about this Psalm, God opened my heart back up to Him. Those questions are:

· How is God going to receive the glory in this situation?

· How can God use me in this situation to make a difference for His kingdom?

· Can God’s majesty be seen in my life as I walk through this moment in time?

In the meantime here are some things we may want to put to the forefront of our mind as we are walking through difficult circumstances. In fact if we are not going through the fires of life, we may be walking through an event with someone.

God has not abandoned us (Isaiah 41:10);
God’s love for us can be seen through the wrath that He poured out on His Son Jesus Christ while He suffered on the cross for our sins (Romans 3:25);
God did not stop by just allowing His Son to die for us, but raised Him from the dead (physically) three days later, giving all who believe eternal life (Romans 10:9-10);
God gives us His Holy Spirit so that we have both a guarantee into eternal life and the power to live for Him in this present life (Ephesians 1:13-14, 5:18);
The Lord is constantly praying for us (Romans 8:26; Hebrews 7:25);
Nothing can separate us from Him (Romans 8:26-38);
God gives us others to help us through His local churches (Hebrews 10:24);
The Lord Jesus will return for us someday (John 14:1-6).

I am certain there are many, many other things that could be added to this list. The key importance is that as we walk through difficulty we do so by being committed to meditating on Him from the scriptures. This should be our utmost desire. With this we will glorify Him, be used for the purpose of building His kingdom, and other’s will see God’s majesty in our lives!

NEXT WEEK: BEING GLAD IN THE LORD

His Servant with You,

Steven Swaim

President & Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

[i] Homer Heathers, Jr., The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hendrickson Publishing, Peabody, Massachusetts, 1982, Pg. 393.

[ii] http://qbible.com/hebrew-old-testament/psalms/104.html

[iii] John Phillips, Exploring The Psalms, Volume Two Psalms 89-150. Loizeaux Brothers, Neptune, New Jersey, 1988, Pg. 137

2017 NEW YEARS MESSAGE

2017-01-01T16:12:00.002-08:00

My Story

I have abandonment issues. There I said it! I just gave away my biggest weakness. Much of this has existed since I was a child, but it was deeply pronounced when my first wife walked out on me. It really came to the forefront when I was a pastor. While in the middle of getting the church ready for VBS for the first time in ten years, a family in the church that was helping became angry over something that was totally fabricated and left. I felt abandoned like I had on the day my first wife walked out. It is both an annoyance and a major issue that needs to be dealt with.

After things fell apart at the church I began a journey of questioning if I should be in the pastorate. In fact it was so bad that I thought maybe I should not even preach anymore. The very last service things blew open so bad that I had to take measures to protect myself from a man who was rushing the rostrum. It wasn’t pleasant.

The incident forced me to reflect. Before the divorce I had been fairly productive. It seemed anything I touched ministry and work wise just seemed to prosper. Youth ministries, college & career classes, home based Bible studies, evangelism events seemed to all just work. In fact the several of the BMA churches were I was interim pastor all seemed to take off and start growing before the new pastor came in. I even had three churches considering me to pastor. You might say it was the golden era of ministry for me.

However after the divorce things were different. I lost my job because the business shut down. I still had the opportunity to preach from time to time, but nothing like what it was before. At one point the one church that was looking at me to pastor decided against it because of the divorce. I decided to go back to college and finish my degree at Dallas Baptist University. I went to a larger church that was a part of a larger Baptist denomination. While involved there I met Mary. The two of us married a year later. At that point I thought things might turn around. Things just were not meant to be. While at this church Mary and I started working with the 20 Somethings class in the Singles Ministry. It had two people. Within a month we had ten. About six months later we had twenty. Because our work was growing and the College & Career class was not the associate pastor encouraged the College and Career teacher to get those in our class to start attending their class. So Mary and I would do the work while they reaped the benefit. His reasoning was because the younger singles who had never been married didn’t need to around a group of divorced, bitter people. Never mind that half of the twenty year olds in the class was either divorced already, single mothers, or couples who use to live with each other before Mary and I counseled them.

About two years later I followed one of the staff members to another church to be their education minister. While there I was excited hoping to see a small urban church revived and reaching out her community. That lasted four years and we moved our membership back to the church I originated at. While at my old home church I became their youth minister because the one before me became a missionary. He had been there for ten years. It was not easy since the church and surrounding area were in transition. Plus the former youth minister continued to come around which made things very difficult. The best I could do was maintain the ministry. There was some growth which was very little because the youth who were imbedded there did not want to participate in ministry.

Add to those lack luster moments the church that I resigned from and you get the last thirteen years of my life in ministry as a virtual failure. I began to think maybe it was time to move on to other things. Maybe I could do something that would help my family financially and just support ministries rather than be involved in them.

I was on total burnout. In fact I was even ready to chunk the towel in on my job. There I had received abuses as well, which added to the ugly in the situation. My thoughts were turning toward just giving up. I wasn’t suicidal, but I was beginning to lean in a suicidal direction professionally, ministry, and socially. Something was about to snap and it was going to be ugly.

It was at the point that I thought I was going to break. I had made my mind up…trash it all and go live for myself. Never mind the grace of God which had been given to me through faith in His Son Jesus Christ. Never mind the sacrifice made for me through Jesus Christ. Never mind the Holy Spirit who has been working in my life since I was 17. Never mind the ministry work that God had done by allowing me to be used by Him. Never mind the family He had given to me. Never mind the loving son He gave to my wife and me when we were told to stop trying. Never mind the countless people who supported me through my difficulties of the divorce. Or for that the extreme support I had received from both those who belonged to the church I pastored and those who had been praying for me during this deep moment of despair. Never mind any of that! All I can say is look at the good God has done for me, but I was ready to call it quits.

That’s when the minute of miracle occurred. I have programed in my phone for a verse from the Bible to pop up every morning. Right at that moment when I was going to go for the gusto and quit, Isaiah 41:10 came up, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

It was a verse I had memorized years ago when I was going through the trials and pitfalls of my first marriage before the divorce. It meant a lot to me then and its meaning was about to get deeper.

When I glanced at the phone the only words I saw was, “…I am with you…” It grabbed me as if God Himself was telling me that. But once I sit back and think about it, since I do believe in inerrancy and infallibility, God was talking to me!

My heart stopped and I looked again. God knew what I needed. I deserved Hell, but He gave me salvation! I deserved a rebuke but He showed kindness! Despite all of the grief, disappointments, and failures I had seen God literally told me, “…I am with you…”

I am sure I have a long way to go. This is possibly the first step of many back to recovery. Not recovery of ministry, but of a relationship which I have need of. Ministry should be the outpouring of my life not what I base my life on. Success had formed a mentality of entitlement. The abuse of others had brought the feeling of abandonment. God used that to bring a refreshing walk with Him.

So is that the message? No, but it makes a great introduction for what this verse can mean for us throughout this year. Let’s take a moment and see how it applies to our thoughts for 2017.

Do Not Fear

One of the things that made 2016 so difficult was the election. For eight years we have lived under a very repressive government that was meant to be representative. The election was brutal especially if you didn’t support Donald Trump as the nominee and especially if you supported him after he received the nomination. (In other words he was not my first choice.) But Trump won and now I have many friends who “fear” the worse. To be very honest, I think it could be better if my person would have won in the primaries, but I am very doubtful that things will be worse under Mr. Trump.

So the message is from God, do not fear what tomorrow brings. No, literally He says that. When teaching His disciples in Matthew 10 He discussed with them about how that there would be abusive, arrogant people who would come into their lives and into the lives of the churches they would plant. He called them wolves and serpent (v. 16). But Jesus tells His disciples, “Therefore, do not fear them…” (v. 26). Just to make sure that is understood He repeats Himself in verse 31, “So do not fear…”

Each time we are called out to actively pursue God in faith, fear is the very result. But it is the reason not to fear that is important! God simply tells the people of Judah, “Do not fear, for I am with you…” The presence of God is a powerful thing. The very thought of God being with us takes the fear out of things. And why wouldn’t it, John states in 1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”

That leads us to our next thought:

Do Not Anxiously Look About You

This reminds me of Peter walking on the water in Matthew 14:22-33. The narrative goes that Jesus sent His disciples out in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee while He prayed. During that time a storm rose up and was tossing the little boat around. At this point the Lord comes to them walking on water. The disciples were afraid thinking it was a ghost. When the Lord tells them that it is Him Peter requests to go walk out on the water as proof. Peter does walk on the water, looks away from the Lord at the waves and begins to sink. He cries out to the Lord who pulls him out of the water. So why did Peter sink into the water he was successfully walking on? Verse 30 shows us, “But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” Peter looked at his situation and became frightened as a result. Do not get this wrong! Peter’s fears did not cause him to sink! It was taking his eyes off of the Savior that caused him to sink.

The key is found in the adjoining statement in Isaiah 41:10, “…for I am your God”. The reasons for not being anxious by those things swirling around us is simple, God is in control. Not always what any of us want to hear, but the truth is in the fact that all things are in His control.

The writer of Hebrews gives us words of encouragement in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” The idea is that the race is finished with the help of keeping our eyes focused on the One who gives us the strength to not only finish the race but finish it correctly.

Three Areas of Support For Us in Doing God’s Will

God through Isaiah promised help to the nation of Israel resulting in the defeat of their enemies. The same is true for those who believe in Christ. If we have truly turned from our fear to His presence and have moved from a people who are anxious about what is going on around us because of the person of God Himself, then there are three provisions that are given to us as well.

First, He promises to strengthen us. Paul notes best in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 regarding a particular weakness he had, “Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” In the midst of our weakness throughout this year, if we place our trust in God’s presence and fix our eyes on Christ Himself, then the strength of God will be manifest in our lives. We may not always see it, but we can live with assurance that this is true.

Second, His help will be ever present. It makes sense that if He will strengthen us He will also help us. Again this is in line with recognizing His presence and committing our eyes on Him. The Psalmist proclaimed this deeply in Psalm 46:1-3, “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride.” Despite all of the troubles from life and nature the refuge that we have is in the very strength and help we have in Christ.

The final thing that God promises us for this coming year is the fact we have His support. Again we turn to the Psalms for a deeper explanation. In Psalm 89:13-14 it’s noted, “You have a strong arm; Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.” Here we see that the strength of God’s hand is found in His righteousness. Because He is righteous He knows where and how to support us in our endeavors. In other words He is not going to support anything that does not bring Him glory and does not exhibit His righteousness.

Final Thought

So how does this all relate to us? First, as we move through the year we need to constantly stay aware of God’s presence in everything that goes on. This will keep fear from invading and robing us of the wealth we have in Christ. Second, as the year moves forward we need to understand that God is with us during those anxious moments that will come along during 2017. In all that we go through we must remember that step by step, when in our weakest moments God is there strengthening us; in our moments of helplessness He becomes our help; and in our times when there seems to be no support, as long as we are living within His righteous will, He will always be our support.

The only way to get any of this from the Lord is if we know Him personally. And the only way to know Him personally is through the person and work of Jesus Christ. You and I have to conclude that without Him we are too weak to save ourselves from our situations or our sins. Without Him we must conclude that we are helpless to save ourselves. And without Him we will find no support for having eternal life. The Lord Jesus died for our sins which nailed Him to the cross. Through the strength of His resurrection we can find eternal life. All we have to do is turn away from ourselves and place our trust in Him alone. This is the only way to find hope, help, and support in 2017.

His Servant with You,

Steven Swaim

President & Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

Please look for my next upcoming book Walking Faith.

25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS-DAY 1

2016-12-01T07:56:00.001-08:00

A Battle Line Drawn-Christmas the defeat of the work of the Devil

Genesis 3:15-NASB

“And I will put enmity

Between you and the woman,

And between your seed and her seed;

He shall bruise you on the head,

And you shall bruise him on the heel.”

The history of the "battle line" has two possible origins. One is that it is the initial place where two enemy forces clash. The other is a defined marker or line were when the enemy crosses over or through signaling the defending army to attack. Either idea may be right.

In the book of Genesis we have such a battle line drawn in 3:15. In chapter 1 we watch as God creates and places the universe in order. Then in chapter 2 we see Him making man from the dust of the of the earth and giving him a command, "...From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.'" (2:16-17). Then in the latter half of chapter 2 we see Him make woman from the side of man.

In chapter 3 we have an interesting situation occur; a new character called the serpent shows up uninvited. He talks to the woman about eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He questions God's authority and spouts out uncertaintiesabout God's intentions. In time she gives in and eats the fruit. Then she invites her husband into this unholy act.

As usual God shows up at the moment when wrong is being done. He calls Adam's name. In a hurry the man and woman tie fig leaves together to hide their nakedness. And to make things worse they attempt to hide. The point is that humanity attempted to make its own way of salvation without any intervention from God or confession to the wrong they had done.

When Adam and Eve finally came out from hiding they confess that they hid from God because of their nakedness. Understand the issue, it was not just the nakedness of their bodies, but of their souls. No longer did purity of love for God exist. Rather the tortured disfigurement of sin was born in the hearts of God’s representatives who exhibited His image. After God asks who told them they were naked (already knowing what had happened and what would occur), the man blamed his wife. The wife blamed the serpent. And as the joke goes, the serpent didn’t have a leg to stand on.

Then God goes about pronouncing judgment on each of the participants. He starts with the serpent which is backward from the blame game that just happened. In that judgment He makes an announcement. The serpent/snake would be at odds with humanity. And in time a representative of humanity would destroy the serpent even though the serpent would inflict great harm to him.

So what does all of this mean? God in His righteousness drew a battle line in the sand of life. For the serpent ultimate defeat and destruction would occur. For the woman great pain would be involved in child bearing. For the man wasted years of unfruitfulness in a land that use to flourish with plenty. To all, death (both physical and spiritual) due to the nature of sin.

What does this have to do with Christmas? While it is not a pleasant look at what we like to think about Christmas, it is in fact a reality. God drew the battle line between us and him. Our parental representatives chose to make themselves their own gods, forsaking the One who created them and loved them. The serpent is understood to be Satan. His only weapons are lie and deceit. He cannot make us do what he wants, only deceive us into thinking that what he wants is best. But verse 15 gives us hope; a promise is made. That human representative would one day destroy the works of Satan himself, but at a cost to Himself. 1 John 3:8 states, “…The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”

Christmas is about more than a baby in a manger. It is more than a story about the magi following a star. It is more than a moment in history about shepherds finding the baby in the manger. It is more than what we could ever imagine. That morning that we read about in both Matthew chapter 2 and Luke chapters 1-2 was not the beginning of the life of a man. It was more, much more. It was about the God who became a Man, who would feel the pain of death for all of humanity (“you shall bruise him on the heel”). He would feel that pain not only for humanity, but at the hands of all of humanity. His shed blood would provide a covering for the sins of all who place their trust in Him alone. But the defeat of the works of the devil do not occur until this One who died for us all rose from the dead physically (“He shall bruise you on the head”). Through His death we find salvation from sin that is destroying us from within. Through His resurrection we find eternal life because we have placed faith in the eternal One.

Who is this One who did this for us? Who is this Son of God who destroyed the works of the devil? “…you shall call His name Jesus…” (Matthew 1:21)

Please freely share this.

I hope and pray that God can use this.

Steven Swaim, President and Founder of Be Devoted Ministries

If you would like to invite me to speak at an event, contact me at StevenSwaim@BeDevotedMinistries.com.

Please place “Speaking Engagement” in the Description line and have a contact phone number in the body.

Tomorrow-A Battle Line Drawn-Christmas the defeat of Death

More News about My Upcoming Book Walking Faith

2016-08-18T06:13:00.001-07:00

On August 15^th, 2016 the rough draft of my book Walking Faith-A Journey from Then to Now through James was sent to Xulon Press (www.xulonpress.com) for the review process to begin. This is an exciting moment as I begin moving toward a new career in writing. As many of you know there are close to 120 in-depth articles on this blog and it is my desire to expand that to having a greater influence in areas of people’s lives. Please pray for the staff at Xulon Press as they endeavor to work with me regarding this book.

Steven Swaim

President/Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

Pastor, Lawrence Springs Missionary Baptist Church

Please e-mail me with any speaking engagements you would like to book: StevenSwaim@BeDevotedMinistries.com

PROGRESS TOWARD PUBLICATION OF "WALKING FAITH"

2016-08-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

Today progress was made as I sent the manuscript to Xulon Press. At the same time the artist which I have sought out to work on the cover received a copy of the manuscript to get a clearer understanding of what is wanted. Share Life Community Outreach in Mesquite, Texas will be the recipients of the cost of the book cover.

Steven Swaim
President and Founder, Be Devoted Ministries
You can contact me for speaking engagements at StevenSwaim@BeDevotedMinistries.com

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT!

2016-08-12T06:30:00.001-07:00

Many have been asking why I have slowed down or even stopped blogging. The reason is last month I signed with Xulon Press to publish his first book Walking Faith. It is a devotional study verse by verse and thought by thought through the book of James. More detail will be given as progress toward the publication date draws closer. Please pray for this that God will use it and please pray for those who will be reading it.

Steven Swaim

President and Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

Pastor, Lawrence Springs Missionary Baptist Church Grand Saline TX

I can be reached for any speaking engagements at: StevenSwaim@BeDevotedMinistries.com

WORDS AND PHRASES WITH NO REAL MEANINGS—LIKE “MISSIONAL” AND “CAST A VISION”

2015-01-08T16:53:00.001-08:00

1^st Timothy 1:3-7

“³As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, ⁴nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. ⁵But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. ⁶For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, ⁷wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.”

Introduction

Have you ever come to the point that you’re really tired of hearing terms that are used so frequently that it makes your ears hurt? Back in the 1970s it was the phrase “sit on it” which became popular because of the television show Happy Days. In the 1980s words like “rad” and “narly” were used to a disgusting point. There were so many tiring terms used in the 1990s I don’t even think I can begin to bring any of them up. As we crossed into the 21^st century things were not any different, especially in the theological and church world.

Faulty Leadership-“Casting A Vision”

In the 1980s, while attending the Criswell College in Dallas, Texas, I came into contact with a term. It wasn’t used by the professors or any of the guest speakers, from what I recall, but at some point it was brought to my attention. It was “casting a vision.” At first it sounded Biblical but as time went on I became more leery of it, and I think for good reason. I was told that it was the job of the pastor to “cast the vision” for the local church to follow. It was up to him to give clear guidance as to the direction for that church regarding that year.

Often Proverbs 29:18 was quoted from the King James Version, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” There are two problems with using this verse in this manner. First, they never continue quoting the verse, “…but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” That means the verse is not fully being explained in context. Second, the NASB renders it, “Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.” This brings a little deeper meaning to the idea that is being related. The NIV probably comes even closer to the perception, “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom's instruction.” But I believe it is the NLT that gets the prize for exacting the meaning from the verse, “When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.” In other words the truest sense of the verse is not given when used as part of the “casting the vision” image. This verse which is often used as an excuse for this idea does not even come close to what is being noted.

Here is the reason I believe this concept is doctrinally unsound and clearly unbiblical: Because it exacts the concept of authority over the local church to a fallen individual rather than adhering to the leadership of the Lord Jesus as Head of the church, a proper instructing from the Holy Scriptures, and following the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is my belief, and I believe the Bible will bear this out, that the direction of a local church can and often does come from several different avenues. The term “casting a vision” is a business model and is another excuse of one person or group of people attempting to overpower another group of people. The power of Congregationalism runs contrary to this because in it the people, being empowered by the revelation of God (His word, the Bible) and the Holy Spirit can determine together what the will of God is for that local body.

Faulty Terms-Missional, Christ Followers

That brings me to another term that I find both doctrinally unsound and unbiblical, Missional. I am so tired of hearing about “being a Missional church” or “being a people with a Missional calling.” I spoke with one of the men several years ago who helped craft the definition of this word. When he was speaking to the group I was in, he stated that the word was being thrown around in the Emergent circles and didn’t seem to have any real meaning (which is typical of anything Post-modern). They came up with the definition so it could be used in some form of context and its main purpose was to be used to replace the name Christian. Why? What was the reason? Because, it had become politicized and there were groups (such as Coptic Christians) who had the name but as a community would take up arms to fight alongside Israel. My response was, “WHAT?????!!!”

Another term that is being way over used, which is closer to a Biblical view, is “Christ followers.” This is often used for many of the same reasons as Missional but is also used to keep people from identifying them with any one denominational group or another. Here the idea is that if we use this term rather than Christian, people will identify us as people who are following the Person Jesus rather than a group, idea, or philosophy.

In both the Missional folks and “Christ followers” crowd think that since the name Christian is being used in a disparaging way then we should jettison the name altogether. There are several problems with this. First, it ignores Scripture. In Acts 11:26 it states that “…the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” When this occurred it was not a positive thing, this word was used unfavorably. The word “Christian” in the Greek means “little Christ.” In other words the disciples in Antioch walked so close to the Lord that they could be identified with being His offspring. After several years we have king Agippa talking to the apostle Paul stating, “… ‘In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.’” By this time the movement that was originally called “the Way” in Acts 9:2 has now become identified as “Christians.” As evidence of this in 1^st Peter 4:16 the apostle Peter exhorted his readers by saying, “but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.” Peter uses this name as distinguishing those who follow Christ in suffering verses those who are persecuting them. This tells us that no matter how society views our name, we should bare it with distinction not run from it.

The second issue I have with these groups is that it ignores history. We have mountains of scholarly writings from centuries past that refer to us as Christians. Luther, Calvin, Arminius, Wesley, Whitfield, Edwards, Tozer, Lewis, Criswell, Spurgeon, Moody, and many, many others. This is unquestionable a very, very short list. If we continue down this fast trek to ignore the name Christian we will eventually loose contact with those men and women from the past who wrote calling us Christians.

The third issue I have with these groups is that they are following cultural dictates of heretics like Brian McLaren, Rob Bell and Doug Pagitt. All three of these men are leaders of what use to be known as the Emergent Church Movement (and its different variations). All three espouse using the word Missional, considering the fact that the Emergent Church Movement coined the term. All three men deny the Trinity of God. All three men deny the reality of eternal punishment in Hell. All three deny the atonement through Christ alone. All three deny the authority of the Bible. All three believe that there is an evolutionary occurrence emerging out of the churches. If they oppose us on so many levels then why do we use terms, words, and ideas that they espouse? Because it’s popular? Pretty poor excuse!

What Should We Do?

There are several things we need to do in regards to both of these issues and to correct course to a more Biblically based and Spirit lead way of living:

First, as pastors we need to seek God’s face on our faces. We need to pray that the Holy Spirit will lead our churches by guiding our people to live more Biblically. We need to pray that our people will seek the face of God for their families and His control over their lives. We need to pray that any visions that are “casts” only come from the work of the Holy Spirit coming from the people of God as they adhere to the word of Truth. The beauty of this all is that it encourages congregational participation. And fits more into the mode of what Paul exhorts in his discussion of spiritual gifts in 1^st Corinthians 12:14-31. In that passage he points out that we are to live as a body placing importance on our Lord and doing what He created us to do.

Second, let’s embrace who we are…Christians! There should be nothing embarrassing about being someone who is called by this name. Sure there will be those who bring embarrassment to the name and to the Cause, but they have always been here (Acts 5). No matter what we call ourselves someone will always use it for the sake of politics or to make money or to even cause wars. Regardless, it is something we should take seriously and individually, as well as community wise, in order to live up too.

Finally, pastors need to stick with reading and preaching the Bible. I advocate doctrinal and verse by verse expository preaching. Bring the Bible alive by explaining what it means and how that affects our people’s lives. I believe this also allows us to become more sensitive to the work of the Spirit because He never works contrary to His word. If we fear unrestraint activity from the congregations regarding ministry then solid preaching of Scripture (both doctrinal and expositional) as well as sound shepherding will help curve any unbiblical activities. We should not be scared of modernization but need to be cautious just the same of things that appear to be inappropriate. If our congregation seem unwilling to move forward that means discipleship is needed not just planning activities.

Let me know what you think,

Steven Swaim

President and Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

Pastor, Lawrence Springs Baptist Church-Grand Saline, TX

WHEN THE TRUTH STARTS TO COME OUT

2013-07-26T10:58:00.000-07:00

I have spoken out against the homosexual agenda for many years, especially where the Biblical text stands. Within the last year I released several articles dealing with a pamlet called The Politics Of Homosexuality. This pamplet was the starting point for a moment that has been associated with destroying much of what the world considers the norm dealing with sexuality, family life and marriage. The article that I am about to present to you came across my desk several weeks ago. I am very appreciative of those who forwarded it to me. It is a story that is rarely told and needs to be heard and read. For all the homophobia mess that many claim leads to those of the same sex persuation being mistreated there are stories like this one which get surpressed. It is the other side of the coin. It is the side that I have personally noted in personally dealing with those who are locked up in homosexual behavior...anger and violence. Please read this with an open understanding that not everyone in the same sex movement shows this kind of behavior but I'm afraid that it is stories such as this that get covered up while those who are intellectually honest about the issue are called names in the media. Let me further say that I am not, nor to I agree with Catholism, but I believe that what Biship Thomas Paprocki brings out dealing with what happened is important. My special thanks to CNS.com for this piece.

Bishop: Catholic Mom Murdered by Gay Man ‘Died a Martyr for Her Faith’

July 11, 2013 - 9:37 PM

By Michael W. Chapman

Subscribe to Michael W. Chapman RSS
Follow Michael W. Chapman on Twitter

Bishop Thomas Paprocki,
head of the Catholic diocese of Springfield, Illinois.

(CNSNews.com) – A Catholic mother who

was brutally murdered by a gay man because
she challenged him about his homosexual lifestyle
“died as a martyr for her faith,” according to
Bishop Thomas Paprocki, head of the Catholic
diocese in Springfield, Ill., who also said the
woman’s “murder was widely ignored by the
media,” apparently for political reasons.

The woman, Mary Stachowicz, a 51-year-old mother of four children and devout Catholic, was beaten, stabbed, raped, and strangled to death by then-19-year-old Nicholas Gutierrez on Nov. 13, 2002. He then wrapped her body in plastic and stuffed it under the floorboards of his apartment. After his arrest, Guttierrez gave a videotaped statement to police saying “he attacked Stachowicz after she confronted him for being a homosexual,” reported the Chicago Tribune.

According to the defense attorney, Stachowicz apparently had asked Gutierrez, “Why do you sleep with boys?”

Bishop Paprocki spoke about Stachowicz and her 2002 death during a discussion about same-sex marriage sponsored by the Jesuit Alumni in Arizona group, in Phoenix, on May 31 of this year. In his opening remarks, the bishop talked about the extensive coverage by the media given to the murder of Matthew Shephard, who was killed partly because he was gay, and contrasted that with the minimal coverage given to the Stachowicz case, a mother killed because she shared her Catholic beliefs with another person.

As the bishop said: "A Google search on the Internet for the name 'Matthew Shepard' at one time produced 11,900,000 results. Matthew Shepard was a 21-year-old college student who was savagely beaten to death in 1998 in Wyoming. His murder has been called a hate crime because Shepard was gay.

Mary Stachowicz (1951-2002)

“A similar search on the Internet for the name ‘Mary Stachowicz’ yielded 26,800 results. In 2002, Mary Stachowicz was also brutally murdered, but the circumstances were quite different.

“Mary, the gentle, devout 51-year-old Catholic mother of four urged her co-worker, Nicholas Gutierrez, 19, to change his gay lifestyle. Infuriated by this, as he later told police, he allegedly beat, stabbed and strangled her to death and then stuffed her mangled body in a crawl space in his apartment, located above a Chicago funeral home, where they both worked.

“I know about Mary Stachowicz, not from the Internet, but personally, because Mary was my secretary at the parish where I was pastor before I was named a bishop.

“She worked part time at the funeral home and part time at the parish. One afternoon, she didn’t show up at her usual starting time. This was unusual because she was always on time. A call to the funeral home disclosed that her car was still in their parking lot and her purse with her car keys was still at her desk, but there was no sign of Mary.

“As Mary’s family and friends prayed and worried about her disappearance, Gutierrez prayed with them. Three days later, her mutilated body was discovered in a crawl space in his apartment.

“Both murders were senseless and brutal, and I condemn them both unequivocally. However, the fact that there are over eleven-and-a-half million more Internet stories about Matthew Shepard than Mary Stachowicz indicates where popular sentiment lies today on the question of same-sex relationships.

“Shepard’s story has received such widespread attention because his homosexuality was the chief motive for his murder.

“Mary’s murder was widely ignored by the media, despite the fact that she died as a martyr for her faith.”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines martyrdom as “the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death. The martyr bears witness to Christ who died and rose, to whom he is united by charity. He bears witness to the truth of the faith and of Christian doctrine. He endures death through an act of fortitude. "Let me become the food of the beasts, through whom it will be given me to reach God." (2473)

Nicholas Gutierrez was convicted of the murder of Mary Stachowicz and sentenced to life in prison in 2007. In July 2010, Bishop Paprocki gave his official approval, imprimatur, to a prayer that describes Mary Stachowicz as “pure of heart and devoted to chastity” and that if it is God’s will, “she be glorified by the Church” as a saint.

Lee Strobel: "What prevents people from reading the Bible?"

2013-07-12T09:28:00.001-07:00

COMMITTED TO THE LOCAL. CHURCH

2013-06-25T19:24:00.000-07:00

While studying Hebrews 10:24-25 (and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. NASB) I ran across this quote from Warren Wiersbe from his book "Be Confident", "It is interesting to note that the emphasis here is not on what the believer gets from the assembly, but rather on what he can contribute to the assembly."( pg 115) Maybe it's time that we stop taylor making churches to fit the culture and its "needs" and start declaring the unashamed Gospel. Those who want to follow can contribute to the cause by being apart of this Divine calling or they can move out of the way, stop complaining that we are not fun enough like the church down the street, and rethink their salvation experience. Because, evidently they are focused on the wrong things and wrong person. Sometimes it just has to be said.

A FATHER'S DAY MESSAGE

2013-06-16T06:33:00.001-07:00

John 10:40 NASB

And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there.

A father's approval of us is very important. In fact that approval is so important that it can make or brake a child in life. It is also important that the child hears this approval straight from the father not just hear say that comes from others.

My dad deeply loved me I have no question. There were moments that he revealed that with a hug, word of encouragement, or a form of needed advice. But I would have given anything to have heard him personally tell me what he told others when he was proud of me as his son. Those moments were rare. I felt that my last days with dad ended much the same way as they were lived...in one form of turmoil and conflict or another.

In John chapter 10 we read of Jesus having a conflict with the Jews. He had basically put them in their place by stating three things: they were not the children of God because they were not following Him (verses 22-30); He and the Father were one (verse 30); and that the works He performed and words He spoke were from God His Father (verses 32-39). This lead them to attempt to capture Him and stone Him but it states that He eluded them. Where does He go afterwards? To a place where it all seemed to have started, the place of His baptism. Why here? What is the significance of this place? In the three Synoptic Gospels the answer is given; this was the place where His Father gave Him His public approval, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22). The cool thing about this is that the Father gives this blessing long before Jesus does anything.

So fathers today start doing something that maybe your father never or rarely did. Show your loving approval for who your children are not just what they accomplish. And make sure you do it a lot and in the open. I know that James will be experiencing it a little more than I did. And if your father is still alive give him a big hug!

Please contact me with any questions or speaking engagements you may want to include me in on at StevenSwaim@BeDevotedMinistries.com.

His Servant Together With You,

Steven Swaim
President and Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

A SUBSTANCE OF LIFE

2013-06-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

JAMES 1:3

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

(KJV)

Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

(NASB)

Years ago I had a friend who would not pray for patience because he felt God might bring trials into his life to produce that patience. This was all based on the King James rendering of James 1:3. In reality my friend just simply did not want to go through difficult times in life. In 1^st Corinthians 13:4 Paul states that love is patient or long suffering (KJV). The point is we do not know what degree of patience, love, or faith we have unless it is first tested. The degree of those three things is found in the degree of endurance we show under trying circumstances.

Our Lord Jesus showed this best on the cross. Hebrews 12:2 states that He “…endured the cross, despising the shame,…” The greatest love was shown in great patience toward the whole human race which was crucifying Him because of their sins. Through the testing of the cross we see love demonstrated through patience because of, “…the joy set before Him…” That joy of knowing that if we place our faith and confidence in what He did on the cross for us and based on His bodily resurrection, we would spend eternity in Heaven with Him spurred Him forward. It was love and patience placed to the ultimate test because Jesus could have easily called a legion of angels to His rescue (Matthew 26:53). The key is that He did not, but suffered in our place instead.

My question is have you ever looked at what was done on the cross seeing God’s great love and mercy for you? Have you ever thought about what all Jesus went through for you (us)? Have you ever trusted Him as Savior based on that great love?

If you are a Christian please put this at the forethought of your mind today. If we really love our spouses, children (grandchildren), co-workers, neighbors, church members, ect. then we will show the same love through patience that Jesus showed to us on the cross. So go and grow in God’s good grace and in patience.

I am open for speaking engagements. If you wish to invite me for a speaking engagement please contact me atStevenSwaim@BeDevotedMinistries.com.

His Servant Together With You,

Steven Swaim

President and Founder, Be Devoted Ministries

All Bible verses quoted are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise noted.

WHO DO YOU SHOW THE GREATEST ALLIANCE TO?-A MEMORIAL DAY DEVOTION

2013-05-28T02:47:00.000-07:00

Deuteronomy 10:12-22 NASB

12 “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? 14 Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the highest heavens, the earth and all that is in it. 15 Yet on your fathers did the Lord set His affection to love them, and He chose their descendants after them, even you above all peoples, as it is this day. 16 So circumcise your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer. 17 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. 18 He executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and shows His love for the alien by giving him food and clothing. 19 So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. 20 You shall fear the Lord your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. 21 He is your praise and He is your God, who has done these great and awesome things for you which your eyes have seen. 22 Your fathers went down to Egypt seventy persons in all, and now the Lord your God has made you as numerous as the stars of heaven.

My three year son taught me a very interesting lesson the other day. When he was two and a half he discovered the 1967 version of Spiderman. Then about two months ago he discovered Batman. Then a month ago he discovered Superman. As I was wondering through Wal-Mart the other day L spotted a cheap, but colorful cup with Spiderman on it, so I bought it. When we got home I washed it and presented it to him receiving a negative response that he no longer liked him. My mom had told me the same thing happened with some Spiderman plates she bought for him. In that situation he informed her that Superman was his favorite. About thirty minutes. after the cup incident he was sitting watching Spiderman talking about how he was his favorite. It was a conflict of alliances.

As we read through Deuteronomy 10:12-22 we see that no such conflict was to exist with alliances in regard to Yawhew, the God of eternity. There are several things in this passage which show the form of dedication that Yahweh expected from the Hebrews: Speaking to them He uses the word require (v.12); He also states in verse 13 that He wants them to respect Him, walk with Him, love Him, and serve Him with all their being (existence) ; verse 14 brings out that they were to "keep" His commandments for their own good; they were implored in verse 16 to circumcise their hearts and warned not to stiffen their attitudes toward God's commandments; this nation of people were expected to cling to God according to verse 20; and in verses 21-22 they were expected to praise Him for all His goodness.

The reasons were given for this: In verse 15 God states His love for them and choice of them; and He declares Himself as total LORD over all and greatness over everything in verse 17.

The question comes to beg for those of us today as to where our alliances belong. Do they belong to political parties? Do they belong to some ridged ideology that shows no Biblical truth to it? Are we given to the past unwilling to change? Or so bent on the future we are unwilling to see the benefits of the past?

Today as we have remembered those who have fallen let's not forget the One who has given us life. Let's not forget how He sacrificed His life for us and then rose from the dead. Let's cling to Him.

Please contact me with for any speaking engagements you might be interested in having me speak.

His Servant Together With You,

Steven Swaim
President and Founder, Be Devoted Ministries