Oak Hill Baptist Church

You have to do your homework

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Hearing from God”

Our Bible verse for today: “The people here (Berea) were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scripture daily to see if these things were so. Consequently, many of them believed …” Acts 17:11-12 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “You have to do your homework”

In Acts 17:11-12 the Apostle Paul was experiencing a little bit of heaven on earth for a preacher and teacher. He had a group of Bible students who were eager to be taught and who were happy to do their homework. The passage tells us that the Bereans listened closely to the Biblical truths Paul was sharing with them, and then they opened the Scriptures and searched for themselves to be sure Paul was being accurate and that they were understanding correctly. Yes, they searched the Scripture for themselves (and all the preachers out there said, “hallelujah!”)

Far too many Christians do not search the Scriptures for themselves. They don’t compare what they’re hearing to what the Bible actually says, nor do they search the Scripture for guidance from God regarding making important decisions. Sometimes it’s because we’re lazy; in some cases, it’s because we don’t know how to search the Bible like that; and also, all too often, Christians simply assume they know what God has to say on any given subject when in fact, they don’t – or at least they don’t know for sure and accurately.

When needing Biblical guidance on an issue, the primary way to find what you’re looking for in the Bible is to do a word search. Select key words pertaining to the issue and then use a concordance to direct you to all the places in the Bible that pertain to that subject. Then prayerfully let the Holy Spirit impress upon you verses and passages that pertain to your situation (but be careful not to take the Scripture out of context). You can even Google it. No kidding, it turns out that Google is a helpful Bible search tool. Just type in “Bible verses about …” and almost instantly you will be directed to multiple Christian websites that provide lists of verses and passages that pertain to your issue.

Another important way of seeking and finding guidance from God’s written Word is to be thoroughly familiar with Biblical principles (as discussed in a previous devotional in this series). Know basic Biblical principles so well that when faced with situations in life that require decisions and actions, you already have a general sense of how God would have you act. Then go to the Bible and review those principles (in context) to be sure you are remembering them correctly and applying them accurately to your situation.

Knowing the Bible that well and frequently referring to it for this kind of guidance results in having what we call “a Biblical worldview. Tomorrow we will think about how God uses a Biblical worldview to speak to us and to guide us.

But our lesson for today is: if you want to hear from God you have to do your homework.

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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God speaks through the scenarios in the Bible

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Hearing from God”

Our Bible verse for today: “These things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our instruction …” 1 Corinthians 10:11 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God speaks through the scenarios recorded in the Bible”

Right now, on Sunday nights at Oak Hill Baptist Church we are studying the parable of the Prodigal Son. It’s a deep-dive into the intricacies of the parable and we’re learning a lot from it. When telling a parable, Jesus took a spiritual truth and He laid it alongside a scene or example from everyday life to help illustrate how the spiritual truth is lived out in the situations of our lives. The parable paints a picture or describes a scenario that is typical in life and through it, God speaks truth that we can then apply to our own lives.

God does that all throughout Scripture – He creates scenarios or He records for us scenes of His people involved in the things of everyday life, and from those scenes we receive guidance for living our own lives. The parable of the Prodigal Son is one example of that.

We see another example of God using a scene or scenario to speak to us in Acts 2:42-47. There we find the early church in Jerusalem gathered for worship, prayer, and fellowship. They were united in purpose, they were generous with their resources, they were taking care of each other, and there was a powerful spiritual dynamic at work among them. Through this scene God is speaking to us about the attributes He wants us to be cultivating in our own church life.

In Numbers 14:1-4 God shows a negative scenario that He intends for us to avoid. In that case, the people of God disobeyed His clear command to go forward and take possession of the Promised Land.

In that scene we see the psychological phenomenon known as “groupthink” at work among God’s people. “Groupthink” is a dysfunctional decision-making process whereby one influential person convinces someone else of something; then the two of them go to work on a third person; and then the three of them convince others; and soon, everyone is coming to the same flawed decision. But they’re doing so because they have been influenced by others and the more who come into agreement, the more powerful the argument seems because so many others agree with it. In a church setting the group will usually conclude that “this is obviously the will of God because we are all in agreement.” (There is actually an easy way to avoid this, and we will discuss it in an upcoming devotional.)

For now, the lesson for us here this morning is that God speaks to us through the scenarios recorded in the Bible. We can learn both positive and negative lessons from how God’s people conducted themselves in those situations. Tomorrow we will conclude our thinking about how God speaks to us through the Bible. We will consider some ways to search the Scripture for the answers we need in specific situations.

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 speaks through examples in the Bible

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Hearing from God”

Our Bible verse for today: “Lord, your word is forever; it is firmly fixed in heaven. Your faithfulness is for all generations …” Psalm 119:89-90 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God speaks to us through examples in the Bible”

In recent devotionals we have been thinking about the fact that God’s primary means of communicating with us is through the Bible. As the Psalmist indicated in Psalm 119:89-90, the truths of the Bible are for all people, in all places, at all times. God speaks most directly through the dos and don’ts given in specific commands. But He also speaks more broadly through Biblical principles, also known as precepts. These are general rules of thumb that apply across a wide spectrum of situations and circumstances, and which provide us with clear guardrails to help keep us in the center of God’s will.

Another way God speaks to us through His written word is by the example of people in the Bible – both good examples and bad. For instance, in Joshua chapter fourteen we find a healthy, spry, and feisty Caleb at 85 – still vigorous and living life large. All throughout scripture God teaches us to be good stewards of our bodies by avoiding gluttony, laziness, and other bad habits. Caleb is just one of the positive examples of that. There are other examples of Biblical figures who did not take care of themselves and it is always portrayed as a bad thing (The priest Eli in 1 Samuel 4:18; King Eglon in Judges 3:22). What we learn from Biblical examples on this topic is that God expects us take proper care of our bodies.

God also expects us to faithfully attend worship services. We find that modeled for us by God’s people all throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Nowhere in either the Old or New Testament are we given examples of people skipping those services and it being portrayed as a good thing, or even as something God allows. Not only does God tell us in the Bible to go to church, but then He gives us example after example of people doing exactly that.

Both positive and negative role models are given to us all throughout Scripture, and they teach us lessons about a wide variety of life issues. This is God speaking to us. Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Deborah, Samuel, David, Mary, Jesus, John, Paul, Dorcas, and so many others are all good Biblical role models. Korah, Absolom, Ahab, Judas, and many others are not. Their examples all teach us something about how God wants us to conduct ourselves.

God does speak to us through the life stories of people in the Bible – both good examples and bad. But again, we have to take the time to carefully study those examples, learn from them, and then prayerfully and thoughtfully apply those lessons to our own lives.

Tomorrow we will consider how it is that God speaks to us through the scenarios, situations, and circumstances we read about on the pages of the Bible.

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 speaks through precepts (principles)

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Hearing from God”

Our Bible verse for today: “You have commanded that your precepts be diligently kept.” Psalm 119:4 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God speaks through precepts (principles)”

In Psalm 119:4 we are reminded that God commands us to know His precepts and to live by them. According to the dictionary a precept is “a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought.” For instance, in our society we have a legal precept that a person is innocent until proven guilty. That is a general rule that’s intended to regulate the behavior of the criminal justice system so they cannot treat a person as being guilty until the guilt has been proven in a court of law. That legal precept is also intended to regulate the thought of our citizens regarding someone who has been accused of committing a crime. We’re not supposed to assume the person is guilty until they have been proven to be so. So, this precept is a general rule that is supposed to apply broadly across a wide spectrum of situations and circumstances.

In the Bible God has given us numerous precepts, or what we call “Biblical principles” which we are to apply broadly across a wide spectrum of life. These are general principles which are to govern our thinking and our conduct, and it is another way in which God speaks to us through His written Word.

Colossians 3:23 is one example, “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as something done for the Lord and not for people.” So, if you are at work and you’re wondering if it’s okay with God for you to give a half-effort rather than your best, now you have your answer. God expects us to do our best at whatever the task is.

Colossians 4:6 is another one, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer each person.” So, while you should speak truth to people (salt), God expects you to do so in a gracious manner (calm and measured and respectful.)

God’s precepts are also usually taught multiple times in the Bible, not just once. For instance, Proverbs 3:27 and Galatians 6:10 both teach the same basic precept: “When it is in your power, don’t withhold good from the one to whom it belongs.” and “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” So, if someone needs help, and if you can help, then you should.

God speaks to us through the precepts, or principles, articulated in the Bible. Taken together, they give us a guide for living. But again, as has already been noted in previous devotionals, if we want to hear God speak to us in this way, we have to take the time to search the scripture for these answers. This is an important but very neglected point. Most Christians do not regularly do this. Therefore, we will think a little more about it 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)

Obey the dos and don’ts

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Hearing from God”

Our Bible verse for today: “How happy are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the Lord’s instruction!” Psalm 119:1 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Obey the dos and don’ts”

When it comes to hearing God speak to you through the Bible the first and most obvious thing to look for are His clearly expressed dos and don’ts. There are many circumstances of life that are directly addressed by God with a specific do or don’t – the Ten Commandments being the primary list (Exodus 20:1-17). So, if you’re wondering whether or not it’s okay to murder your annoying neighbor, the sixth commandment will answer that question for you. Likewise, the issues of using God’s name as a curse, or committing adultery, or stealing, lying, or coveting, are addressed directly and forcefully by God in that short list. He has left little room for doubt regarding those issues. And beyond the Ten Commandments, there are also many other examples in the Bible where God clearly forbids specific behaviors – homosexuality being an obvious and very contemporary example.

Then there are many times when we are explicitly and directly told there are things God requires us to do. These are the dos of the Bible. The fourth commandment instructs that we are to faithfully observe the Sabbath. In the New Testament the writer of the letter to the Hebrews makes clear (Hb 10:24-25) that God’s intent in that fourth commandment is that we are to faithfully attend the gatherings of our church family. So, if you are wondering if it’s okay with God to skip church this Sunday just because you don’t feel like going, you already have the answer. Observing the Sabbath by going to church is one of the clear dos of the Bible.

There are many more. Numerous passages in both the Old and New Testaments clearly instruct us to help and care for those in need. Many others speak of our responsibility to protect the unity of the church. Still others instruct us about being good stewards of the things God has entrusted to our care.

The point is that in the Bible God has addressed many of the biggest and most important issues we will face in life by giving us specific dos and don’ts. So, the question isn’t whether God has told us what or what not to do regarding those issues, the question is whether or not we will take the time to search the Bible for the answers when we are faced with those issues (as discussed in yesterday’s devotional).

In a future devotional in this series, we will think about methods that help us to quickly locate God’s specific instructions when we need them. For now, when it comes to hearing from God, please understand that He has already provided you with many of the answers you need. Those answers come in the form of clear dos and don’ts.

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 speaks to us through the Bible

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Hearing from God”

Our Bible verse for today: “You word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God speaks to us through the Bible”

I love Psalm 119. It’s the longest chapter in the Bible and it’s all about the Bible. It is 176 verses that speak of the wonder of God’s Word. In it the writer declares his devotion to the Word of God; he speaks of his love for God’s statutes and precepts; and he writes of how the Word of God provides him with the insight and clarity he needs to walk through the days of his life in a manner that is honoring and pleasing to God. Obviously, this was a person who had learned to hear God speaking to him through the written Word.

The Bible is God’s primary means of speaking to us. In it He provides us (in writing) the clearest and most direct expression of His will and His ways. Therefore, when it comes to hearing from God and understanding what He wants us to do or not do, the Bible has to be the place we go to first to hear from Him. The problem is that many Christians do not do that – at least not in a thoughtful, prayerful, slow, intentional, and systematic way. Far to often, when needing guidance from God, many Christians give a wink and nod to the Word of God, or they assume, in a general way that they sorta kinda know what the Bible probably says about the issue. But they don’t take the time to systematically search the Bible for specific answers to the actual issue they are dealing with.

Admittedly, doing so takes time, and most of us are in a hurry. We drum our fingers on the counter and yell at the microwave to “Hurry up!” We zip and zoom on the freeway, weaving back and forth from lane to lane, passing other cars on the right and on the left, all in order to gain an extra car length or two so we can arrive at our destination five minutes earlier than we would have. We’re just impatient people hurrying our way through life. But it takes patience and diligence and time to search the Bible for answers from God, and the average Christian today is just in too much of a hurry for that.

Much to their loss. The Bible is God’s primary means of speaking to His people. And not just to speak to us in a general, big-picture way like Aesop’s fables or with old fashioned country wisdom like you used to get from your grandma, but rather, God uses the Bible to speak to the specific issues of our lives – if we will only take the time to hear Him.

We will spend the next couple of days considering how God speaks to us very directly, and very specifically, through the Bible. The first step to hearing from Him through His written Word is to invest the time it requires to do so.

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 wants to be heard and understood

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Hearing from God”

Our Bible verse for today: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them and they follow me.” John 10:27 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God wants to be heard and understood”

I refer often to the Bible study by Henry Blackaby “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God.” That’s because no other Bible study I’ve ever participated in has had a more profound impact on me than that one. It radically changed my understanding of God and it opened-up my relationship with Him in ways I never anticipated.

There were two lessons in that study that were especially impactful for me. The first was this observation by Blackaby, (I’m paraphrasing) “If I can’t hear God speaking to me, and know that it is Him, I am in trouble at the heart of my Christian life.” Henry went on to explain that God wants to be heard and understood by His people. It’s in His own interest for His people to be able to hear Him and to understand Him. That made perfect sense to me and it helped to convince me that God does indeed speak to me personally, and that I simply needed to learn how to hear and understand Him.

The second important lesson was that although God can speak to us in an infinite number of ways, in our day He typically speaks in five ways: through prayer, through the Bible, through the circumstances of our lives, through the counsel of other Christians, and through the testimony of the church.

In Scripture we see God speaking to people through a burning bush, from the mouth of a donkey, in dreams, by means of angels, through the mouths of prophets, and much more. So, the point holds that God can speak to us any way He wants but again, in our day, God typically communicates with us in the five ways Henry outlines in his study. In my own experience, over more than thirty years since then, I have personally discovered that God does indeed communicate very clearly in all those ways.

In the days to come we will turn our attention to carefully examining how God uses each one of those methods to speak with us. Tomorrow we will consider how He speaks to us through the Bible.

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 speaks through creation

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Hearing from God”

Our Bible verse for today: “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “God speaks through creation”

Before we move on in our study to consider the many other ways God communicates with us, I want to continue our thinking from yesterday about how it is that God speaks to us without using words at all. Yesterday we considered how it is that as we sit quietly before Him, just enjoying His presence, He will often impart to us a deep sense of peace and assurance. He will quiet our minds, slow the heartrate, and chase away our doubts, fears, and concerns. That is God speaking to us. That is God reminding us of His sovereignty over our lives. “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Another way God speaks to us without words is through His creation. Yesterday I told you of how rich and refreshing I find my Monday morning quiet times on the front porch. Something else I almost always do on Mondays is I get alone with God out in nature. Often that means going on a long hike (our part of Tennessee, on the western edge of the Smoky Mountains, has many beautiful trails.) On other days I will go out on one of the local lakes in my kayak, often just sitting quietly in the middle of the lake and soaking-in the beauty of God’s creation. In the warmer weather I will go on long rides on my Harley Davidson motorcycle (riding a Harley on country roads in eastern Tennessee might not actually be heaven, but it’s awfully close!)

My point is that one of the ways God speaks to us without words is through nature. As King David wrote in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” Being with God in nature has the same effect as sitting before Him in quiet solitude – it’s a form of soul-care. It calms you down, chases away your fears and doubts, it imparts a deep sense of peace in your mind and heart, and it helps to remind you that God is sovereign over the affairs of your life. “Jim, I am God and you are not. Now, just chill.”

God speaks to us through creation. I encourage you to take some time soon to get alone with God in the great outdoors.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals messages, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant of if you are a shut-in, join us online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville)

God doesn’t need words

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Hearing from God”

Our Bible verse for today: “Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “God doesn’t need words”

I love the Sabbath day, and lucky me, I get two Sabbath days every week. Well, actually, I get two half-Sabbaths every week. Sabbath is a day for both worship and rest. Sunday is definitely a day of worship for me, but it is not a day of rest. The worship experience at our church is awesome, but it’s also the busiest workday of the week for me.

Monday, on the other hand, is a day of rest. It’s the other half of my Sabbath. And I do love Mondays! The Lord has recently blessed me with a big new deck on the front of my house. I have comfortable chairs and a firepit there and I love to spend a couple of early-morning hours out on that deck with a fire, a cup of coffee, my study Bible, and the Lord. This is some of my best time with the Lord all week. This is when He speaks to me the most – but not in audible ways and in fact, not with words at all.

In those quiet times God speaks with His presence. It’s Psalm 46:10, “Just be still, Jim, and know that I am God.” I think about that verse a lot as I’m sitting out there in the cool early morning, listening to the birds sing, watching the squirrels play, enjoying the peace and quiet. It’s renewing and refreshing. It is soul-care.

Is that God speaking to me? Does God speak in the stillness, in the quietness, and does He do it without words? Yes, He does. In John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” When God speaks to us by means of His presence, He is in fact communicating with us, and sometimes it can be much more powerful and much more effective than anything He says with words. With respect to Psalm 46:10 and John 14:27 God is saying, “Just rest Jim. Lay aside your cares and concerns and just enjoy being with Me.”

Much of what we will consider this month regarding how God speaks to us will be about written words in the Bible; spoken words from friends and counselors; and words that are sung, preached, and prayed. It will involve words. We will also consider how it is that God speaks to us by orchestrating the circumstances of our lives (opening and closing doors of opportunity, creating patterns for us to observe and follow, and much more.) But we should be careful not to discount how He also speaks to us by saying nothing at all.

I encourage you to make sure you allow time to just sit quietly and soak-in the presence of God. Just be still before Him and know that He is God. Doing so is peaceful, refreshing, and renewing. It is soul-care.

God doesn’t need words to speak to us.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you read in the daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville)

Do you hear God?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Hearing from God”

Our Bible verse for today: “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Do you hear God?”

I’ll never forget that time I was seeking direction from the Lord regarding an important decision and honestly, I was getting pretty frustrated with Him because He wasn’t speaking to me. I even lectured Him about it. Actually, it was more like I was admonishing Him. I was ticked off and I was telling Him so.

But then, the sky parted, God poked His face through, He looked directly at me and said in an audible voice, “Okay Jim, here’s what I want you to do …” And then He gave me specific instructions that I could not possibly have misunderstood.” It was awesome.

Okay, that didn’t really happen. The first part did. I was frustrated with God and kind of ticked off but as for the second part – the sky parting, God’s face, audible voice … well, nah.

There was another time, very early in my life as a Christian, that a Pentecostal friend of mine invited me to attend a weekend men’s retreat with his church group. Yes, me, Jim Mersereau, a boring and reserved Southern Baptist stuck in a dormitory for a weekend with a bunch of high-octane Pentecostals who all had too much coffee. They were speaking in tongues, telling stories about miracles, and telling each other about the latest thing that God had said to them. As a young Christian I didn’t know what to make of it. I felt small and inadequate. I was wondering what part of the Holy Spirit they had that I was missing.

Does God speak to us? Well, the Bible says He does, so it must be true. But does He speak to us in a loud audible voice? Not to me He doesn’t. And not to anyone I know. So then, if it’s true that God does speak to us (it is, the Bible tells me so), then in what manner does God speak and how can I know it’s Him?

This is an important question. As Henry Blackaby teaches in “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God,” if I can’t hear God and know it is Him, then I’m in trouble at the heart of my Christian life.

This is a common problem. The Bible assures us that God does indeed speak to us, but many Christians don’t know how to hear Him. So, all this month we will explore this important subject about hearing from God. We will consider the many ways in which He speaks to us; we will learn about different ways to listen to Him; and we will discuss what to do when He doesn’t seem to be speaking. We will also think about some of the common pitfalls and mistakes Christians sometimes make when they think they’re hearing from God but they’re not.

God does speak, but do you know how to hear Him when He does?

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville)