Distance Devotions        –        May 1, 2020

Habakkuk 2; Psalm 4      –        Awestruck with God

Habakkuk 2:20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

Psalm 4:4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.  Selah.

John MacArthur wrote a book entitled, Alone With God, on the first page, he asked this question: Alone with God, what do I say?  That conveys the thought I am trying to make today.  We should be in absolute awe of the majesty of our great God.  The very fact that He is interested in our worship astounds me.  At our best, we are imperfect beings, Paul describes us: “…sin that dwelleth in me.  18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.”  Yet our God is still interested in hearing from us.  He wants and is open to our worship as it is the best thing for His creatures to do. 

Most of us have been out of church for six weeks or so.  For some of us, perhaps a bit longer.  Soon, in fact for FBC-Atoka we will begin May 3^rd, we will join once again in congregational worship of the God of Heaven.  The deep seated hunger in the Lord’s people to meet, not just for the social aspects, but in order to hear God praised in song and to join the saints in magnifying Him cannot be satisfied any other way.  We will take precautions and work at this thing called “social distancing” in order that we may with joy and gladness sit in His presence. 

We will never be on the same level with the Supreme Deity, but we are His children.  We belong with Him now and in eternity.  He is our Creator and we are His creatures.  Jesus is God in flesh, very God of very God as the creed says.  We are not that and never will be, yet we are His and our worship is directed at honoring the King of Kings.  It is good practice for what will happen in eternity.  Revelation 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.  7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.  8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.  We who are to be a part of this glad congregation in glory should practice for it now by worshipping Him.  I’ll see you soon when we meet in the building the Lord gave us.  And, if by the will of God, some of us pass on before returning to church, I’ll see you in the sweet bye and bye!

Pastor F. J. Weems III

Distance Devotions          –          April 30, 2020

Psalm 122:1                     –          Happiness in Attendance

Psalm 122:1 A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

As we approach the end of the government’s guidance on the COVID-19 crisis, it is time for us to begin to meet inside of the buildings the Lord has given us for worship.  Some churches never ceased in-person meetings with a small percentage of their congregation attending.  Some are still very concerned and uncertain about getting out and being in public with numbers of people.  Regardless of where you are on that decision now, in the near future (I hope), we will all be more comfortable with being together in church.  The Live Stream that we have been using for the last four years is a blessing, but is no substitute for being with the Lord’s people.

I am glad that the disease did not hit as hard as some predicted.  Thank God that we have not seen a nationwide flood of sickness and death.  As I write this, the death toll is estimated to be about 60,000.  Though that is a small percentage of the population, if you lost a loved one it is tragic.  Numbers and stats are great, but the reality of it hitting close to home is where people live.  Remember to pray for the families who lost their loved ones. 

I am glad that we have freedom to meet and worship the Lord.  During these weeks, as I have begun to be more active after my back surgery, I had often gone to the church’s mailbox.  In doing so, I have seen many of you mailing in your tithes and missions offerings.  It has been a joy to see and know of your faithfulness. 

I am glad that we have access to our Heavenly Father through the means of prayer.  He listens and knows the depths of our being.  We may not be the most articulate at expressing ourselves, but the Holy Spirit takes our prayers and presents them before the Father.  When we stumble verbally, the Spirit makes intercession for us.  (Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.) 

I am glad that the message we have is one of hope.  Despair marks the news media and the pundits of this world because they do not know God.  We who have trusted him know the brightest days of our existence are just ahead.  There is coming a time on this earth when disease and war will be rampant.  Half of the world’s population is going to die in a seven-year time frame known as the Tribulation.  We, the New Testament Church, will be lifted out of here prior to that in the mighty Rapture.  I am glad that we will not go through the Tribulation.  I am glad for the promises of God that he will not, yea, cannot, break nor fail to fulfill!

Are you glad?

Pastor F. J. Weems III

Distance Devotions        –        April 28, 2020

2 Corinthians 4:5-7         –        Treasure in Earthen Vessels

2 Corinthians 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.  6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

Men are self-centered, all of us, to some degree or the other, we focus on ourselves and the struggle to be spiritual is intense.  We expect such things from children.  You know, the child who in the church nursery with other children believes all the toys are his/hers.  Children have to be taught to share and some learn it happily while others go kicking and screaming.  Such a sight would be unseemly for an adult, yet, in our heart of hearts that is exactly what happens sometimes.  God help us to war against this sin of the flesh that we most often call covetousness.

When we are dead and gone, there will scant knowledge of us in the next hundred years or so.  There is the occasional bright and shining light of a unique individual who God singularly uses like a Spurgeon, a Moody, or Livingstone.  Most of us labor in relative obscurity from the vast majority of the world and spend our ministerial life in one or two places.  However, lest we get discouraged, we are reminded that the ministry is treasure.  What a wonder!  Men who were once themselves under the curse of damnation for sin are now announcing to others that Jesus saves!  Men who were lost in the darkness of carnality, some in the depths of depravity and debauchery, have been made pure in the blood of the Lamb and are His mouthpiece to others in like pits and cesspools of sin.  There have been untold millions who were not so far down as other men, but were sinners on their way to the same hell as the most depraved man who ever lived.  God is not limited as to who He can use and will use to accomplish His will.  But, the treasure is held in an earthen vessel.  While I will likely not be much remembered in the next century, the Gospel I have preached all these years will still shine on, attracting sinners of all stripes to come to Jesus.

Paul knew his weaknesses.  He knew that all of us carried with us the sentence of death because of sin in this old body.  He also knew that the glory of ministering the things of God to fallen men was a gift from God to His children.  All of us, whether in the pulpit ministry or not, have this treasure.  Any of us can lead lost souls to Christ.  Be a witness, testify to others of what Christ has done for you.  The vessel doesn’t much matter, but the treasure does. 

Pastor F. J. Weems III

Distance Devotions        –        April 28, 2020

John 10:26-28                –        Eternal Life

John 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.  27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 10 is a well-known chapter in the Scriptures.  It has such poignant statements about the salvation God gives to those who trust His Son, Jesus Christ.  Let me just point out one thing before we delve into the text for today’s devotional thought.  Look closely at verse 26.  Note how the Lord addresses the lost condition of those He was addressing.  He says, you are not mine and because of that you don’t believe.  He can say that for He is the Sovereign of the universe.  The God who created all things also knowns all things in a manner that we simply cannot begin to comprehend.  We would say it this way, because you don’t believe you are not saved.  Think on this difference and give our Lord glory for His wondrous wisdom and power.

What is usually the theme when teaching or preaching from John chapter 10, and rightfully so, is the doctrine of eternal life.  It is a gift that only God can give, but He is freely doing so to believers.  Eternal life, not temporary life, not life eternal when we arrive in Heaven by and by, but now, in this present world and at this present time, eternal life.  We sometimes see the term “everlasting life,” instead of eternal life.  The terms are interchangeable, yet we can glean a little something from the distinction between the two.  Everlasting is a reference to how long, or how much, of life we have.  Eternal life refers to the quality of the life we receive from Him.  We can say it this way, we have an everlasting amount of eternal life!  We are not just going to live, but we are going to live in the present of the Everlasting Father.

Do you know that you have eternal life?  It is the only kind God gives and once you have it you will never become unsaved.  If it is truly eternal, it is not possible to have it and then to lose it.  Some, however, who claimed to be saved, give little to no evidence of having been converted and hurt the testimony of Christ.  If you fear that you cannot hold out to the end, cast your doubt away for it is the faithfulness of our Savior that matters.  He will not fail.  Today, examine yourself and see whether you are in the faith.  If you find that you are not, come and welcome to Jesus.  He has grace sufficient and more than we will ever be able to exhaust.  His invitation is, For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Pastor F. J. Weems III

Distance Devotions        –        April 27, 2020

Acts 2; 9; 16                   –        And Suddenly

Acts 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven….

Acts 16:26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

I remember from a number of years ago, a sermon Dr. Oliver B. Greene preached on the subject: And Suddenly.  For most of us, God doesn’t move fast enough.  We fret over the things we want done and sometimes become exasperated with the Lord.  By the way, if you are presently doing that, it is sinful.  I am in no way countenancing an attitude that sees God as failing or being reluctant to minister to His people.  We live in a day of instant gratification.  You can buy a car online and have it delivered in just a few days.  You can look at a house online and take steps toward a purchase.  We want faster ways to cook and clean.  It seems we are forever getting information on the newest, fastest, and best vacuum, stove, and now we have 700 HP FAST cars once again.

God doesn’t move on our time schedule, but when He does move, it is often suddenly.  Peter was in prison when an angel awakened him.  At the door where the believers were gathered to pray for him, he suddenly knocked on the door to their complete surprise.  When Paul and Silas were in prison and began to sing at midnight, God suddenly moved and sent an earthquake.  What you and I need to draw from this is that the Lord has not forgotten us.  Our needs and our trials are ever before Him.  When He moves, it will seem sudden to us.  Oh that God would suddenly send revival to His church!  Whether it start here or some other part of the globe, we are in dire need of a fresh breath from heaven.  Let us pray and look for God to suddenly move on the scene.

Pastor F. J. Weems III

Distance Devotions          –          April 26, 2020

Psalm 133:1                     –          Unity Among the Brethren

Ps 133:1 A Song of degrees of David.  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

The Bible speaks of separation.  There are professed believers from who we must separate over sin issues as laid out in 1 Corinthians 5.  Further, we are also told to separate from those who teach and promote false doctrine.  There are also limits on how much friendship we can have with unbelievers.  Yoking up with unbelievers in marriage and other entanglements are forbidden.  We must be balanced we begin to talk about unity.  Unity is spoken of in glowing terms.  We are told to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  It must be a worthy cause to receive such accolades from the God of heaven.

Unity, sweet unity among those who know the Lord is a wondrous thing indeed.  Notice how the Lord describes it: good and pleasant.  Thomas Haweis said: Among the deadliest evils which have befallen the church of God, we may justly reckon the divisions, disputes, and animosities which have from time to time so grievously rent it, disfigured its beauty, destroyed its peace. O that we had passed at last the water of strife, and begun to taste the blessedness of loving one another out of a pure heart fervently.  We do, after all, have the same Father and all who are born again belong to the same family.  The desire to get along with our brethren is natural.  Not at the expense of doctrine or deportment, but certainly we should be willing to forego some things that we might enjoy a broader range of fellowship.  Paul the Apostle said he would forego eating meat if in doing so he would avoid offending his Christian brother.

The tendency of some to demand that everyone jump up and down in their basket has led to wars among preachers.  It is a sad commentary on modern Christianity that we have separated one from another over small and insignificant issues.  Defend doctrine, yes!  Defend purity and holiness, yes!  But by all means let us set aside those things that do not really matter.  One man has his congregation observe the Lord’s Supper every week, another leads in Communion monthly, and yet another leads in the lord’s Supper quarterly.  These things should not keep us apart.  I am a premillennialist, but I have friends who are not.  I see no reason to fall out with a brother over prophecy.  Let us seek as much unity as possible, yea, let us endeavor (work hard) at it for the Word of God says it is a good and pleasant thing.

Pastor F. J. Weems III

Distance Devotions        –        April 25, 2020

Job 42:5, 6                      –        But Now Mine Eye Seeth Thee

Job 42:5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.  6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. 

Job is a revelation of God’s hands moving behind the scenes.  We have the advantage of knowing the whole story as it is available to us in the Holy Bible.  Job lived it minute by minute.  We know from the beginning that there is a contest of sorts between God and Satan.  The only possible variable in the account is Job.  He is a human being with all the faults and weaknesses that attend to that condition.  However, the Lord knew Job better than Job knew himself.  He knew that the relationship between Him and Job would withstand any assault by the devil.  Job learned that as he suffered through a horrific time in his life.

Job is not without fault though God called him a perfect and upright man.  The word perfect does not mean without flaw, but it means complete and mature.  Job was certainly that.  His three friends, upon hearing of the tragedies Job and his wife endured, come to comfort him.  They sit for seven days mourning and grieving with him, or so Job thought.  What follows next is hard to describe.  His three friends tell him his children are dead because they were wicked (Job 8:4), they accused him of lusting after other women, of being self-righteous, and a myriad of other sins.  Job does defend himself against their verbal attacks and in doing so reveals some faults, but also making some of the greatest statements in all the Word of the living God.  Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him (Job 13:15).  25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me. (Job 19) 

Still, God has some instruction for his servant, Job.  Starting in chapter thirty-eight, God begins to question Job.  1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, 2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? (Job 38)  In fact, the Lord asks Job about fifty or so questions, putting Job in his place, while rebuking Job’s three friends.  Don’t faint when the Lord questions you.  We all need the searching of the Holy Spirit in our heart lest we become carnally secure in our spirituality.  None of us is above this searching.  Remember, Job was called by God Himself, perfect, upright, one who feared God and avoided evil.  When the Lord calls us into question through His Word in a sermon, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit as we pray, or as we read the Word and the searchlight is suddenly turned on, it is not to hurt us, but in order to strengthen and mold us into His image.  Job was a better man at the end of the book.  We are to be better at the end of our life than we are now.

Pastor F. J. Weems III

Distance Devotions          –          April 24, 2020

Numbers 23:10; 31:7, 8   –          The Death of the Righteous

Numbers 23:10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! 

Numbers 31:7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.  8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.

Balaam is an enigma.  He seems to be a prophet who heard from the God of heaven and was known for doing so.  Yet, it seems apparent that he was a mouthpiece that God used while Balaam himself was an unbeliever.  Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (Jude 11)  Here is another reference that proves Balaam to be a pagan.  But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Revelation 2:14)  These verses make the point that in spite of what good he may have done, Balaam was at heart, a non-believer in the God of the Old Testament.

The story of Balaam is also very interesting.  As far as I know, he is the only man in history who held a conversation with a four-legged donkey.  The donkey was smarter than Balaam and had better spiritual vision than her owner. 25 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again. 26 And the angel of the LORD went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left.  27 And when the ass saw the angel of the LORD, she fell down under Balaam: and Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff.  28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?  29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee. (Numbers 22)  Balaam really did not want to obey God and wanted the treasure Balak offered him. His true prophecies were wrung out of him by the fear of seeing the Angel of the Lord with the drawn sword.

Balaam repeats the words, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said…. (Nu 24:15)  However, in reality, his eyes were not opened.  One of my favorite bible college professors said this about Balaam: The man who went to hell with his eyes open.  That is an accurate description in my opinion.  What lesson do we learn from Balaam?  The lesson of honesty and sincerity is plainly taught here.  Had Balaam really loved the Lord and been an obedient believer, once negative answer from God would have been enough.  He would not have helped the enemies of God by teaching them a method to weaken the Jewish nation.  His cynical use of Moabite women shows a lack of moral character.  Balaam was a bad guy.  Having a desire to die like a righteous man was not enough for Balaam and mere desires and emotions won’t suffice for us either.  Just because you have religious thoughts and emotions is not evidence of conversion.  Remember what Jesus said was a real hallmark of the believer: If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15) It was the same in the Old Testament as well.  And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:6)  Rest not in emotions and desires alone, but rest on a sincere faith that changes you and your desires.

Pastor F. J. Weems III

Distance Devotions        –        April 23, 2020

1 Peter 5:5, 6                  –        The Problem of Pride

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.  6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time….

The issue of submission is found all through the Bible.  The one with which we are mostly likely to be familiar is for the wife to be in submission to her husband.  It might well be the most controversial as well.  Most of that comes from a misunderstanding of what submission means.  It does not mean the wife loses her identity, ceases to have a say in family matters, or must do everything the husband says.  A godly husband will make the submission of a good wife an easier matter than one who is carnal and demanding.  No wife should follow her husband into sin regardless of what he says or threatens to do.  That is not submission, but is in reality subjugation and the Bible does not teach that.

Submission is the first step in becoming more spiritual.  You will never be more spiritual than you are submissive to the clear teachings of the Word of God.  It show us to be ready disciples, ready to follow, ready to serve, ready to live for Lord who died for us.  Pride is the obstacle to submission.  The wife says, “I’m not submitting to him!”  The carnal believer says to the pastor, “Who are you to tell me what to do!”  Pride is that part of us that wants to control and run our own life.  Yet, we read in our text that God resists pride.  I do not want to be opposed to the will of God for my life.  In order to make sure, I must be submissive to Him.

Pride will feed on the best parts of you.  Perhaps you sing well.  If you are not careful, you will begin to compare yourself to others and think that you can sing better than someone else.  Perhaps you have servant heart.  Yet, if you are careful the devil will cause you to be proud of your humble service.  Sounds like a paradox doesn’t it?  Perhaps one thing some pastors needed to learn from the COVID-19 quarantine was that buildings are not nearly as important as people.  It is easy to get used to our routine and gauge everything by that standard.  All of us are learning to do with less attention to our hair than we like.  Pride is insidious.  It sneaks up on us and has us before we recognize it.  We all love our children and grandchildren, but even they can become a point of pride if we are not watching.  It is not without importance that the Bible says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time….”  If you have not done so recently, ask the Lord to show you if there is some prideful sin in your life.  If you allow pride a place in your heart, it will spoil you and, worst of all, God will oppose you.  Surrender and submit to Him today.  You will not regret it, but be prepared for the Lord to delve deeply into your heart and show you things that you have allowed.  You will grieve over some things.  You will be closer to Him and grateful that He put His hand on these areas of your life.

Pastor F. J. Weems III 

Distance Devotions        –        April 22, 2020

Numbers 13:33               –        And So We Were In Their Sight

Numbers 13:33 …and so we were in their sight.

Yesterday in our Distance Devotions, we dealt with fear and how it paralyzes people.  It comes from looking too much at ourselves.  Quite frankly, if the godliest of all saints spent their time in doing nothing but looking to see their own flaws and weaknesses, they would be utterly depressed and think they would never enter the glories of Heaven.  Thank God we are told to look unto Jesus and not to ourselves.  The spies, or should I say ten of them, came back with a horrific fear of what lay before the nation.  Two, Caleb and Joshua, instead saw the land that God had promised.  They did not buy into the “we were in our own sight as grasshoppers” mentality that the other had.  And if that weren’t bad enough, the ten spies also said, “…and so we were in their sight.”

When Israel finally entered the Promised Land forty years later, Rahab reported to two spies that the hearts of the men of Jericho melted because of the Israelites.  When we try to live according to what we believe others to be thinking of us, we are in actuality turning the reins of our life over to someone else.  If God has promised to provide, why should I be concerned what those outside of Christ think of that.  I am not talking about being rude and losing your testimony before men, but I am speaking of failing to follow the Lord because we see the object as too hard and the attitude of people will be against us.  When I graduated Bible College in 1981, I was working for Southern Bell Telephone Company.  I had good benefits and a good salary.  As I left on a leave pending transfer, so I could keep my insurance for a year as long as I paid the premiums, some of my friends and supervisors told me I would starve.  They were totally negative on the idea of starting a church in a little place called Atoka, Tennessee.  Well, thirty nine years have almost rolled by and I am always trying to figure out how to lose weight.  I wondered how it would go.  Starting a church was new to me, but the Lord overrode my mistakes and here we are in the year 2020.  We were laughed at by some, one night someone stood outside the storefront we met in and cussed to the top of their lungs.  It hasn’t all been sunshine and roses, but the Lord has never failed. 

Do not worry how your faith makes you look in the eyes of the world.  So what if you seem to be a grasshopper in their eyes?  You report to the King of Kings!  Your measurement belongs to Him and not the world.  The ten spies cost thousands their lives and the nation forty years because they thought they could read the minds of those whom they would need to conquer.  You are not a mind reader and do not need to be.  Love God, follow Him, and serve Him trusting the outcome into His hands.

Pastor F. J. Weems III