Rick Henderson

A Gift for us All

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:4-5, 9-11; Acts 8:9-13, 34-39 (day seven)

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Mark 1:4

We as a church, and historically as Baptists, hold to the belief that believer’s baptism by immersion is an important step of obedience in the early moments of a new believer. However, the water is not what saves you. Salvation happens inside of the heart of the new believer as they recognize that Jesus is Lord. If we want to get technical here, Salvation is absolutely nothing of our own doing, but truly a gift from God in response to our faith:

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

With that said, Baptism is the outward expression of this inward grace. It is symbolic of us being buried with Christ in His death and raised to walk in new life (Romans 6:4). Not only is it commanded and exampled by Christ, but there is something solidifying in telling the world that you are unashamed of Him:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Romans 1:16

It is also an opportunity for the Body of Christ to celebrate with you and to promise to walk along side you. Baptism is not just about the person being immersed; it is about all of us being united together in His Church. So help us fill our baptistries with people and praises as we all celebrate this Gift that has been given to us all!

Time with Jesus

Re:Verse passage – John 3:1-9 (day seven)

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; this man came to Jesus by night… John 3:1-2a

Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus by night? It is commonly taught that he was avoiding being seen by his religious counterparts. The first verse lets us know that he was a prominent member of the Jewish community. Had he gone to Jesus during the day, word would have spread quickly that he was there. The other stance you could take was that Nicodemus knew that this was his best shot to have an uninterrupted moment with Jesus. No matter the initial reason, this is what he got: time with Jesus. It wasn’t immediate, but it was this time with Jesus that changed his life forever.

When Jesus was taken down from the cross, Nicodemus was there: Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.

Discipleship is all about planting seeds. Nicodemus came to Jesus timid and unsure, but by the end of Jesus’ ministry, he was bold and confident. Why? Time with Jesus is never wasted. Time with Jesus will always bring change.

Refreshed

Re:Verse passage – 1 Corinthians 16:15–18; Acts 18:1–8; 11:22–26 (day seven)

For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. Therefore acknowledge such men. 1 Corinthians 16:18

I feel refreshed. Though my body aches and my eyes keep on closing, I have never felt more refreshed in my life. If you are unaware, I have spent the last week at Impact camp with hundreds of teenagers and a dozen churches from all across the state. You probably would not expect “refreshed” to be the word choice for that experience, but my soul and my spirit have never been more refreshed.

An intensive time of discipleship like this can be draining, but what becomes refreshing is seeing the product at the end. Watching students give their life to Christ for the very first time, students rededicating their life, and students being called into vocational ministry are well worth the time and energy that go into a week like this.

It may not be camp, but if you feel the weight of discipleship, serving, or teaching, keep looking toward the goal because your spirit will never feel more refreshed than when the people you have been leading finally get it.

All of You for All of Time

Re:Verse passage – Luke 14:25-35 (day seven)

Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. Luke 14:27

The people had no idea that Jesus was being prophetic here. Jesus spoke in parables and illustrations; surely this was another one, right? This was horrifying! Everyone knew that if you took up your cross, then you were not returning from it. This was personal. It wasn’t just “A” cross or “The” cross; this was a call to take up your own cross. Jesus was calling each individual to be willing to start something that they would see to the end. He doesn’t just want us for a moment. He doesn’t just want us for a little bit. He wants all of us for all of time.

Except this wasn’t a parable, nor was it an illustration. Jesus was literally telling his followers what it was going to look like for them to take this road with Him. Today, he asks us to join Him on that road. Are you willing to give Jesus all of you for all of time?

I write this from Impact Camp as we prepare the campus and our student leaders for a week of immersion with Jesus. Pray for our students to become committed disciples of Jesus this week. For some it will be for the first time, for some it will be a challenge to give Jesus all of themselves, and for others it will be a calling to take their faith to the next level. Pray for our students to realize that Jesus wants all of them for all of time, as He does for you!

A Discipleship Problem

Re:Verse passage – Matthew 28:16-20 (day one)

Go ye therefore and make converts of some places by inviting them to church so someone more qualified than you can teach them what it really means to follow Christ.

That is not what this says right? Why then does this encapsulate the vast majority of “Christians” in America today? We have a discipleship problem.

We have so elevated the pulpit, that we do not believe that the average person is capable of leading and discipling someone in Christ. We feel like if we can just get them to church (not a bad starting place), then we are doing our job. We have become dependent on revivals, conferences, and camps to create our conversion moments while we sit on the sideline and hope the pastor does the discipling. True disciples are made in relationships, not in events.

As we as a church get ready for camps and VBS, I long for and pray for conversion moments. I believe these types of events are paramount to our faith and beneficial in creating an atmosphere for someone to draw near to Christ. My prayer though, is not that I would lead them to Christ, but that our students, leaders, and volunteers would be a part of that process and then come alongside us in taking the next step in discipleship:

teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; vs 20a

Graduation

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 93:1-5 (day seven)

As we wrap up this series in Psalms today, we also wrap up another year in school bringing us to Senior Sunday. Pray Psalm 93:5 over these students with me today:

Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
Holiness befits Your house,
O Lord, forevermore. Psalm 93:5

In a world that feels like rising floodwaters, we may not control the waves nor the storm that surrounds us, but we can cling to a Word that will not move. The Word of God is our anchor. We stand on His testimony knowing His promises always come true.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 1:20

Holiness is found in the House of the Lord. God has chosen us to be a part of His Household in heaven and on this earth. Holiness is made easier when we begin to see heaven here on earth, and that starts with His Church.

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:25 NLT

God is reigning on His Throne now and forever! The quicker we recognize this, the quicker we are to get our priorities in order. With Him on the Throne, we can trust His plan and His will over our ways completely.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Come, Behold

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 46:1-11 (day seven)

Come, behold the works of the Lord. Psalm 46:8

What makes today more special than any other day? Nothing… yet, everything. Today we celebrate Pentecost: the day the Church received the Holy Spirit. The day when Spirit of God manifested Himself in the heart’s of all believers, allowing us to become adopted as sons and daughters of the King, giving us direct access to Him. The same Spirit that was given on that day dwells with us every day. In light of that, today is as special as any other day. Do we treat each day this special? Do we expect the Spirit to move in a mighty way every Sunday that we gather? We should!

However, today is special! Today is an opportunity for us to celebrate what the Holy Spirit is doing in the life of our church locally and the Church globally. Come, behold the works of the Lord. Come, behold what the Lord is doing here at FBCSA. Come, behold the miracle of baptism. Come, behold the power of unity in the body. Come, behold the importance of diversity in the congregation. Come, behold what God is going to do in you. May we gather in anticipation and expectation that the Spirit will move amongst us today!

Footprints

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 77:1-20 (day seven)

Your way was in the sea
And Your paths in the mighty waters,
And Your footprints may not be known. Psalm 77:19

Following God’s plan is not always easy to see. To illustrate that point, the psalmist Asaph personifies the Red Sea and invites us to view the parting of the waters from the sea’s perspective.

What we see here is that creation itself will always recognize God, even when we do not. Even in the midst of doubt and fear, creation knew who held authority and immediately responded. The sea represented an uncrossable barrier for Israel: the water before them and the army behind them, closing in. God could have consumed the army with the pillar of fire, but instead He wanted to teach a lesson. He made a way where there was no way.

God used creation to showcase His authority and will. He had a plan and a path forward for the Israelites, but they couldn’t see it. So what does He do? He pulls back the sea to show the Israelites that His footsteps were there the whole time.

The next time you find yourself doubting and wrestling with God’s plan, put one foot in front of the other. Walk in His footsteps, and watch Him make a way for you in places you never thought He could take you.

Barren

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 113:1-9 (day seven)

He makes the barren woman abide in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
Praise the Lord! vs 9

Today we celebrate Motherhood. I’m not going to pretend like this day is an easy day for every woman out there. This can be a day that causes pain, resentment, and doubt for many whose earliest memories include dreams of being a mom. Women, moms, men, dads, whatever your role, whatever your plight, let this passage bring you hope: God sees you, God hears you, and God brings you life.

Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Hannah, Elizabeth and other women found in Scripture resonate deeply with this verse. It’s not just a miracle; it’s a validation. God saw their plight, God heard their cry, and God met them with compassion. He brought them life.

Jesus does the same for every single one of us! Did you know He sang this Psalm the night before He was crucified? (See the Hallel) How sweet and poetic that Jesus brought to life the Psalm that he sang while surrounded by friends in the upper room through his death on the cross and an empty tomb. We are all the barren woman, desperate for a home. Jesus sees our plight, Jesus hears our cry, and Jesus meets us with compassion! Jesus brings us new life!

Happy Mother’s Day to everyone!

Nothing

Re:Verse passage – Psalm 96:1-13 (day seven)

For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Psalm 96:5-6

Sometimes the English language doesn’t fully capture the richness found in Scripture. Especially as we read poetry. The word for idols (elilim) is a play on the word for gods (elohim). Elilim actually translates most closely to “nothing.” What people call “gods” are, in reality, nothing at all. You can try to compare them to God, but they pale in comparison to the splendor and majesty of the Creator of the Universe!

We might not think that we create idols because we don’t have graven images in our households, but the gods of the peoples of today are just as prevalent and dangerous. We worship with our time, energy, and money. If we were to follow the trail of those things in your life, would it lead us to God or would it lead us to something else? Work, family, hobbies, comfort, success, possessions? These are the idols of today. Wait, those can be good things, can’t they?

Strength and beauty are the characteristics of the things found in the presence of God. When God is the center of our worship, we find strength and beauty in those good things, but when those “good” things become the center of our worship, we become drained and burnt out because our energy has been spent doing nothing.