Oak Hill Baptist Church

Satan can’t prevent it from happening

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Be the church”

Our Bible verse for today: “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.” Matthew 16:18 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Satan can’t stop it from happening”

Matthew 16:18 is one of the most important verses in the New Testament because it teaches a vital truth that Christians need to remember – especially Christians who are facing opposition and persecution for the faith. Jesus teaches three important points here:

First, the “rock” that Jesus was referring to and upon which He would build His church was Peter’s profession of faith found in verse 16, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” When people have that kind of faith, they then join Jesus on His mission to save the world and help build the kingdom of God on earth.

Second, Hades was understood in Jewish culture to be the place of death and the domain of Satan. Death is something humans fear, and the threat of death is a tool Satan uses to terrorize people. In this verse Jesus used this phrase as a metaphor for the worst that Satan can throw at us. He was essentially saying that even Satan’s best efforts are not enough to prevent the spread of the kingdom of God.

Third, when Jesus used the image of a gate guarding the realm of Satan, He was depicting territory and influence that Satan had gained and was ruling, and around which he erected barriers (gates) to protect his turf. Jesus says here that those gates, those barriers, will not prevent His people from recapturing territory that Satan has stolen and is ruling over.

When we apply this understanding to our theme of faithfully venturing out into the world to be the church on-mission with Jesus, we realize that working through His people in the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus will build His church and there is nothing Satan can do to stop it from happening.

However, we might wonder if, considering what we see happening in the world all around us today, does that seems like an over-confident boast on the part of Jesus? Doesn’t it seem like Satan’s gates are holding fast and that he is claiming even more territory, and erecting even more barriers to impede and frustrate the work of the church? Was Jesus wrong and is Satan winning?

I think not.

More about this tomorrow.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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The solution is for the church to be the church

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Be the church”

Our Bible verse for today: “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “The solution is for the church to be the church”

I have just ended my annual summer vacation and as I turn my attention back to the life of the church, my primary task for August is to prepare the church for the new church year which begins in September. That will include preparing the new budget and appointing people to their ministry assignments for the new year, and it will also include preparing the church in mind, heart, attitude, and focus, for the challenges awaiting us as we go out into the world to be the church, on-mission with Jesus Christ.

This is important. Our nation desperately needs the church to be the church. Not just Oak Hill Baptist, but all churches, everywhere. Our communities need our churches to be actively engaged outside the walls of the buildings they meet in.

But being on-mission with Jesus in the world we live in today will be no easy task. We live in a post-Christian culture that has already drifted far from God and which is rapidly becoming not just unbiblical, but anti-biblical. The old saying, “The longer you stay on a slippery slope the faster you go and the further you fall,” is certainly being proven true in our society today. The anti-biblical mindset is most easily seen in the realm of sexual ethics. But we also see it in the Marxist ideology that is becoming increasingly pervasive, especially in colleges and universities; we see it in the socialist sense of entitlement that is pervading our entire society; we see it in the surge of criminal activity in our cities and communities; and we see it in the general lack of truthfulness that is becoming so widespread and so widely accepted in our society today.

But still, in Matthew 5:13-16, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called us to go out into our very messy, very confused, very lost world, and be salt and light. In other words, to speak Biblical truth, minister in love, and to make a meaningful difference for the kingdom of God. That’s what we are called to do. That’s how we are to respond to all that is going on around us in our world. We are to simply be the church, on-mission with Jesus, out in the world. We are to do it with boldness and confidence, and we are to do it in love. The solution is for the church to be the church.

We’ll spend the rest of this month thinking about that.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

God bless,
Pastor Jim

This is why we call it “quiet” time

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month” Rest, relax, renew”

Our Bible verse for today: “A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper …” 1 Kings 19:11-12 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “This is why we call it “quiet” time”

We do not live in a quiet world; we live in a noisy world. Very noisy. There’s seldom a time when we’re not exposed to some kind of manmade noise. Think about it, even when you have turned off the television and the radio; even when there are no other people talking; even if you can get away from the sounds of traffic in the distance; there’s still manmade noise. Can you hear the air conditioner humming in the background? Is the lightbulb in the room buzzing? Can you hear the gentle hum of your computer hard drive? It’s difficult to achieve real silence. Many people don’t even want to. Some people are afraid of true silence because then they have to listen to all the noise in their head.

But silence is an essential part of entering into deep communion with God. Seldom does God shout to be heard. Instead, His voice is usually soft and subtle.

That’s what Elijah discovered in 1 Kings 19:11-12. Elijah was having a bad day. He was physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted after an extended time of intense ministry. He was in the desert in a cave when God confronted him regarding the pity-party he was indulging in. As something of a dramatic set-up for His coming appearance, God sent a tornado-force wind to blow. Then there was a ground-shaking earthquake. That was followed by roaring flames of fire. But God wasn’t in any of that. Instead, after the dramatics were over and God had Elijah’s attention, He spoke to Him in a soft gentle voice which Elijah would have to pay close and careful attention to if he wanted to hear it. This is what is sometimes referred to as “The still, small voice of God.”

This is how God typically speaks to us. Seldom does He speak with a booming voice out of the whirlwind, the earthquake, or the fire. Those things can be helpful in getting our attention and causing us to settle down and listen, but when God speaks, it’s usually out of the quiet.

And that’s why we call it “quiet” time. If you want to hear the voice of God you will have to settle down, shut down, stop the noise, and just be quiet before Him. We call it “quiet time” because we need to be quiet if we want to hear from God. I encourage you to be quiet and listen to Him this morning. I believe you will find it to be restful, relaxing, and renewing.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Pray more, worry less

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Rest, relax, renew”

Our Bible verse for today: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Pray more, worry less”

I’ve seen multiple studies in recent months regarding the state of mind of the American people. The studies are designed to assess the psychological health of the American public. The findings are not good. On average, almost 70% declare themselves to be very concerned about the economy. More than 60% say they are worried about the future of democracy. A large percentage of people have significant concerns about crime in our nation.

All of that translates into mental health problems for large segments of the population. Close to 70% of those surveyed report feeling somewhat or very overwhelmed by the totality of everything mentioned in the previous paragraph. Close to 50% report high levels of frequent anxiety. 45% report experiencing a prolonged sense of sadness. More than 40% say they are angry.

Although there is evidence of all of that in the Christian community as well, I believe Christians are doing much better than the overall public in terms of good mental health, and I believe a big part of the reason is prayer. It’s what the Apostle Paul wrote about in Philippians 4:6-7 above – the more we pray the better we handle things.

This is important. How can we savor our time; how can we rest, relax, and renew; how can we enjoy and appreciate the gift of life and the moments of our lives; if we’re stressed-out and anxious all the time? We need to pray more so we can worry less. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith …” And in Isaiah 26:3 we find the promise, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

The world is a mess, but Jesus isn’t. Jesus will give us peace that transcends all the issues we are faced with, a peace that will guard our heart and mind. So, let’s pray more and worry less.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Go deep with God

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Rest, relax, renew”

Our Bible verse for today: “Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your breakers and your billows have swept over me. The Lord will send his faithful love by day; his song will be with me in the night – a prayer to the God of my life.” Psalm 42:7-8 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Go deep with God”

Psalm 42 is a study in contrasts. On the one hand, in verses 1-2, the writer described his deep unsatisfied desire for God as being like a thirsty deer longing for a soothing drink from a cool stream. In verses 5-6 he also wrote about having a dejected and depressed soul immersed in turmoil. But then in verses 7-8, with boldness and confidence, he declares that the Lord will send His faithful love by day and the song of the Lord will be with him in the night. He concludes the Psalm with a great statement of faith and encouragement when he writes in verse 11, “Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Verse 7 is the linchpin upon which the entire Psalm turns. “Deep calls to deep …” God is deep, and He calls us to go deep with Him. Even as we struggle with turmoil, dejection, and depression, our deep God calls us to meet Him in deep places.

In his book, “Intimacy with the Almighty” Pastor Chuck Swindoll writes, “Deep things are intriguing. Deep jungles. Deep water. Deep caves and canyons. Deep thoughts and conversations. There is nothing like depth to make us dissatisfied with superficial, shallow things. Once we have delved below the surface and had a taste of the marvels and mysteries of the deep, we realize the value of taking the time and going to the trouble of plumbing those depths. This is especially true in the spiritual realm. God invites us to go deeper rather than to be content with surface matters.”

Going deep with God requires time. It requires us to slow down, stop, sit, and spend time with Him. Going deep with God also happens when we participate in group worship services. Good music, good teaching, and good fellowship can be profoundly worshipful experiences as we encounter God in the middle of them.

I encourage all of us to set aside time this weekend for meeting God in a deep place both individually in our quiet time, but also together in group worship.

Go deep with God.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Slow down and simplify

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Rest, relax, renew”

Our Bible verse for today: “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Slow down and simplify”

In 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 the Apostle Paul offers us yet another example of the theme we were thinking about yesterday, appreciating and enjoying the simple pleasures of life. In this passage he gives us an image of an entire life that is simple and quiet, focused on just living a good life that honors the Lord and which makes a positive impact on those around us. There was nothing flashy or overly ambitious pictured here. Just an honest simple life.

In a previous devotional in this series I referred to the story of pastor and author John Mark Comer, as described in his book, “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry”. John was the lead pastor of a multi-site mega church. On a typical Sunday he would preach and teach five to six times in a single day. The rest of the week was crammed full of meetings, obligations, and responsibilities. He said he felt more like a high-strung stressed-out corporate CEO than a shepherd of God’s people. Finally, he decided he needed to do exactly what Paul was describing in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 – he needed to simplify and slow down. So, he gave up his high-profile position, became the pastor of a much smaller church, and he simplified the rest of his life as well. He said he restructured his entire life around a few basic and simple goals that involved God, family, and serving other people – and the quality of his life went up exponentially!

John’s story reminds me of a similar book written many years ago by another high-profile pastor about his own life. The pastor was Chuck Swindoll and the book was called “Intimacy with the Almighty.” Chuck’s story was similar to John’s, and so was his solution. In the book Chuck quoted Ecclesiastes 7:29 which in the TEV reads, “God made us plain and simple, but we have made ourselves very complicated.” That described Chuck’s life, and it also describes many of ours. Most of us are not a high-profile pastor of a multi-site mega church, but our lives are still too busy in their own ways. We have indeed made ourselves very complicated.

There’s a lot to be gained from slowing down and simplifying. Seldom if ever does life improve as it gets busier and more complicated. I encourage all of us to slow down and simplify. Let’s give ourselves the time and space to truly savor life.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville)

Appreciate simple pleasures

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Rest, relax, renew”

Our Bible verse for today: “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. If we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.” 1 Timothy 6:6-8 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Appreciate simple pleasures”

As I write this it’s an early summer morning in July. I’m sitting on my front porch, dawn is breaking, there’s a gentle breeze blowing, and the birds are singing. I love the early morning. I find it soothing and I’m grateful for such a peaceful way to begin the day. It’s a simple pleasure but a beautiful one that I find restful, relaxing, and renewing.

As I was sitting here enjoying the moment and thinking about how rich and satisfying simple pleasures can be, it reminded me of another simple pleasure I’m looking forward to very much and which will occur in just a few weeks. Our son Tom, his wife Liz, and our two-year old grandson Oliver will be coming for a visit. They live in Texas and so we don’t get to see them very often but when we do, it is special. Just being together is special – especially with Oliver (our only grandchild.)

Those thoughts reminded me of a time from a year and a half ago when Linda and I were at their home in Texas and Oliver was only six months old. I have a picture of me holding him, with his little head resting on my chest, he seemed perfectly content to just lie there and bond with grandpa. I was content – deeply content, and I didn’t want the moment to end.

In 1 Timothy 6:6-8 the Apostle Paul was teaching his young protégé Timothy (and by extension us) to learn to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Pause for them; sit with them; enjoy them; savor the moment. I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying that “The best things in life are not things.” That’s what Paul meant. The best times in life usually consist of special moments with God and people.

Yesterday I shared a little wisdom with you from one of my favorite contemporary philosophers, Snoopy, the dog from the Peanuts comic strip. This morning we’ll end with a little more. Snoopy says: “Enjoy the little things in life because one day you will look back and realize they were the big things.

Yes, godliness with contentment is great gain. Savor the moment. Enjoy the simple pleasures.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville)

Choose joy

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Rest, relax, renew”

Our Bible verse for today: “A joyful heart makes a face cheerful, but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.” Proverbs 15:13 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Choose joy”

I’m a disciple of that great philosopher Snoopy. I’m speaking of course of Snoopy the dog, from the Peanuts comic strip. Snoopy is indeed wise. He is observant and insightful, an astute student of the human condition, and as a result, he often has helpful advice for Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Pigpen, and me.

Take for instance, the Snoopy Dance. Are you familiar with the Snoopy Dance? You should Google it. Seriously. Take a moment, type in the search bar “Snoopy Dance,” select the YouTube video that comes up, and enjoy. It will take less than a minute.

What you’ll see is Snoopy dancing. Fast. Joyfully. His little paws are just pattering away (Snoopy stands and walks on two legs like humans). His head is back, his face is lifted to the sky, his eyes are closed, his arms (front paws) are extended wide, there’s a smile on his face, and he’s just dancing. He’s doing the Snoopy Dance. He’s thoroughly happy and joyful, and he doesn’t seem to have a care in the world.

Now, the question is “What brought on such an expressive explosion of joyfulness?” And the apparent answer is “nothing.” In the scene there doesn’t seem to be any special reason for his joyful dancing other than that he decided to be joyful and dance. It kind of reminds me of Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Do we really need special reasons to be joyful? Can’t we simply embrace the moment and enjoy it for what it is, as a gift from God? Can’t we simply choose to be joyful and then be intentional about expressing it? Then answer is “yes”, yes we can. Joy can be and should be a choice.

Joy is often a byproduct of resting, relaxing, and renewing. It just feels good to rest, relax, and renew and doing so will often restore to us the sense of joy we were missing. I encourage you to choose joy today.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville)

Three miles an hour is a good pace

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Rest, relax, renew”

Our Bible verse for today: “Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.” 2 Peter 3:8 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Three miles an hour is a good pace”

This morning I want to continue our thought from yesterday regarding the pace of our lives. I noted that too often we blow through our days, just skimming the surface of life rather than slowing down and going deep with people and situations, savoring the moments of our lives.

Kosuke Koyama was a Japanese Christian and a professor of theology. He once wrote a book with the title, “Three Mile an Hour God.” The title comes from the fact that the average human, when not in a hurry, walks at approximately three miles an hour. That’s the average speed of a leisurely but steady stroll. It’s the speed at which we notice, appreciate, and enjoy our surroundings. We’re moving, but we’re not rushed.

Koyama’s premise is that God Himself is never in a hurry, and He seldom pushes us to hurry either because under normal circumstances, hurry is neither necessary nor helpful. Instead, He walks with us through life at the speed that is best for us – three miles an hour. Moving, but relaxed and enjoying the trip.

Read the Gospels. Jesus was never in a hurry. And if our Lord didn’t allow Himself to get frantic and agitated, rushing from here to there, and if our goal is to be more like Him, then perhaps we need to back it down a bit.

Peter’s point in 2 Peter 3:8 (above) is that God is outside of time. Time doesn’t apply to Him. Time is a construct God created within which human affairs unfold and are measured, but God is eternal and He is unaffected by time. Therefore, a day is the same as a thousand years to Him, and a thousand years is like a day. God has eternity to work with and therefore He doesn’t need to rush. And actually, the same is true for us. We have eternity to work with too.

So, do we really need to rush so much? In fact, since God walks with us, and since our best speed under normal circumstances is a leisurely three miles an hour, I can picture God with His hand on my shoulder saying, “Whoa, slow it down a little, Jim. What’s your hurry?”

Good question. What is my hurry? Life lived at three miles an hour is a pretty good pace.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville)

Don’t just skim the surface of life

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Rest, relax, renew”

Our Bible verse for today: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Don’t just skim the surface of life”

One of the best books I’ve ever read regarding how to best use our time is “The Relentless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer. I highly recommend it.

The basic premise of his book is that hurry is a thief. It distracts us from the things that are most important; it causes us to miss precious moments in life; and it steals our joy. Hurry makes it impossible to truly savor moments, people, and events that should be special to us. Hurry also makes us insensitive to other people, and it causes us to miss telltale verbal clues that might have alerted us to the fact that someone else is having a bad day, or is in need of a hug, or a kind word. Speaking of himself Comer realized, “All of my worst moments happen when I’m in a hurry.”

Amen brother.

Philosopher David Zach once referred to such a life as “hyper-living” or, “just skimming the surface of life.” We move through life at such a pace that we just blow by people and situations that really do deserve and should receive our focused attention. We greet people and ask “How are you?” without really listening to how they are. We speed past a beautiful view of meadows and mountains without seeing the meadows and the mountains. We’re just in too much of a hurry. We’re skimming the surface of life.

I love the picture Solomon paints for us in Ecclesiastes 3:1. There is a time for everything and a season for every activity. It’s a picture of a leisurely stroll through life, stopping to smell the roses and talk to the neighbors and pet the puppy. No hyper-living in that picture.

I encourage all of us to slow it down, take a breath, and enjoy the moments of our lives. No hyper-living. No skimming the surface of life. Instead, take the time to pay attention and to go deep with people and situations. Truly appreciate and enjoy the gift of this day that the Lord has given to you. Savor it.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville)