PASTOR DARRYL BAKER

Philemon 1:6
…that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Once you are born again you have within you all that is good, because you have the very presence of God Himself residing in your spirit. To become effective in sharing your faith, acknowledge how good your God is. Don’t magnify the devil by focusing on and talking about what you may be facing in the natural, magnify the goodness of God within you by acknowledging all you have in Christ Jesus, and what He has done for you.

This is what walking by faith and not by sight is all about. When you walk by faith you do not look at what is seen or revealed to the senses, but instead at the things which are not seen (what is not yet revealed in the natural realm) but found in the promises of God’s Word. We do not deny the natural realm; we just don’t magnify and focus our attention on it by talking about and confessing the problems.

Instead focus on the goodness of God by looking to God’s Word and magnifying and confessing the Word of God over your life. Faith is unmoved by what it sees, unaffected by what it feels, for it is only focused on what God has said. That is true faith, and that is how you will change your circumstances and share your faith with others as you acknowledge every good thing you have in Christ Jesus.

If you are blessed by this post subscribe to my daily blog: http://www.pastorbaker.blog/subscribe
Christian Faith Fellowship – Ponder Texas http://www.cffchurch.com

Colossians 2:6-7
6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.

Want to know how to abound in faith, seeing your faith in God become stronger? The apostle Paul tells how in the above verse. He refers to two things here that will make our faith (our trust in God) abound. The first key is to be rooted and built up in your relationship with Jesus. Make getting to know Jesus a priority in your life. This is what reading the Word and developing a prayer life is all about. The better you get to know Him, the stronger your faith (your trust) in Him becomes.

The second key is to live a life of thanksgiving, being grateful for who God is and for what He has done for you through the sacrifice of His Son. When we give thanks to God we magnify Him. In Romans 4:20 it says Abraham’s faith grew strong as he gave glory to God. Giving glory to God means to magnify and exalt God. Psalm 69:30 says we magnify God with thanksgiving.

For example, the children of Israel who came out of Egypt continually complained about their circumstances on the way to the promise land God had awaiting them. They never entered into that promise. They were lacking in their trust with God. This was the result of focusing on themselves and not God. So, make your relationship with Him a daily priority, and stop focusing on you and start thanking God everyday as scripture says for His goodness, and your faith can abound.

If you are blessed by this post subscribe to my daily blog: http://www.pastorbaker.blog/subscribe
Christian Faith Fellowship – Ponder Texas http://www.cffchurch.com

Acts 27:10-11, 21
10 “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss…”
11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.
21 Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.

In Acts 27 a centurion was taking the apostle Paul to appeal his case before Caesar. After having now been placed on a second ship on their journey, they came to a harbor near Lasea. Paul warns them they should proceed no further for if they do as he stated in the above verse, it will end with disaster and much loss. Paul perceived this in his spirit by the Holy Spirit. But the helmsman persuaded the centurion to go on.

As they continue it first appears Paul may have been wrong as the first part of their trip goes well. But then a massive storm hits, and disaster has struck just as Paul had said. Paul tells them they should have listened to him and not incurred this disaster and loss. This still happens today. Spiritual leaders called by God to watch over their flocks who are doing as Paul told Timothy, teaching the whole counsel of God, try to warn their people of decisions in their life that will bring disaster and loss.

Sadly, just as in Paul’s situation, people listen to the voice of others instead of the Word of God they are being taught through gifted leaders. They listen to counsel from friends, family, or others who are not called by God to lead them. At first it seems they have made the right decision, but the end result is never good. Find the leadership God has called you to and heed the Word of God they teach you. Doing so can save you from much harm in your life down the road.

If you are blessed by this post subscribe to my daily blog: http://www.pastorbaker.blog/subscribe
Christian Faith Fellowship – Ponder Texas http://www.cffchurch.com

Acts 11:26b – And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

The first time the word Christian is used in scripture is here in Acts chapter 11. What exactly is a Christian then according to the Word of God? The definition here for the word “Christians” in the above verse is defined in the original language as one who follows after and adheres to the ways of Christ. Here in Acts 11 the disciples were called Christians because they were doing what Jesus had done.

What does it take to become a true Christian according to God’s Word? First of all, we need to recognize we have been bought with a price, and we are now to glorify God in our body and in our spirit because they are now His (1 Corinthians 6:20). In other words, stop living for the old you, and start living in line with the new creation you have become. A major key to doing this is focusing your life on getting to know the One you are to follow. Take time to have daily fellowship through the Word of God with Jesus.

Not only is it important to get to know the One we are to follow after, but we also need to renew our mind to this new creation that we have now become on the inside. As Romans 12:2 tell us, it is through this renewal of how we see ourselves that will cause an outward transformation to be a Christ follower. So, a true Christian is much more than just being born again, and it is the greatest way to live your life, walking in the footsteps of the One who gave us this new life to live, Jesus.

If you are blessed by this post subscribe to my daily blog: http://www.pastorbaker.blog/subscribe
Christian Faith Fellowship – Ponder Texas http://www.cffchurch.com

James 4:6
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

The grace we have in Christ is able to bring great strength to the believer. Grace is help from heaven, what God can do in and through your life. As the scripture above reveals, God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. This reveals that there is more grace, the help of God available to those who are humble. In the verses that follow we see keys to Bible humility.

The very next verse says submit to God and resist the devil. In chapter one of this letter James tells us we are not tempted by God, but by satan. He tempts us with our own fleshly desires. When we choose to submit to God instead of yielding to the temptation, we automatically resist satan and receive God’s help (His grace). In chapter four above James goes on to say we are to draw near to God, and He will draw near to us. The more we fellowship with God, the more of His help we can receive.

He then tells us to cleanse our hands of willful sin, and to purify our hearts from being double-minded. Double-minded people James said in chapter one receive nothing from the Lord. To not be double-minded one simply gets their focus on the things of the spirit, looking at life through God’s perspective instead of the flesh. For those who submit to God, draw near to God, and keep their focus on Him, they will receive more of God’s grace, help from heaven.

If you are blessed by this post subscribe to my daily blog: http://www.pastorbaker.blog/subscribe
Christian Faith Fellowship – Ponder Texas http://www.cffchurch.com

2 Timothy 1:13
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Words are powerful. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. We are told in this verse to hold fast to and only speak sound words. Sound words here means doctrinally healthy, trustworthy words that produce spiritual health. These are simply words based on what God’s Word says. We should do as Jesus did, only speaking in line with what we know the Father has spoken, keeping our words in line with the written Word of God.

You are walking today in what you have said in your yesterday’s, for James chapter three teaches us that our words determine the path our life takes. Words are like the bit in the horse’s mouth, or like a rudder on a ship. They determine the direction your life will go. Words filled with fear, worry, doubt, and unbelief will produce exactly that in our life; but so will words of faith, for they will produce victory, and peace, for you will reap what you sow.

When we choose to speak in line with who God’s Word says we are, what we have, and what we can do, we begin to put His Word to work in our lives. So check up on what you have been saying. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So fill up on the truth of God’s Word and you will change what you speak, and in doing so you will change your future to line up with the Word of God.

If you are blessed by this post subscribe to my daily blog: http://www.pastorbaker.blog/subscribe
Christian Faith Fellowship – Ponder Texas http://www.cffchurch.com

Luke 15:29-31
29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.
30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’
31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.’

THE PRODIGAL SON – PART 2
As we looked at the prodigal son story yesterday, we saw the younger son who came home realizing he had been living wrong, and upon approaching his father said he was no longer worthy to be called his son. He was trying to get his worth from what he had done having wasted his inheritance, instead of who he was as a son. The older son actually does the same thing, but instead of belittling himself, he exalts himself, doing just the opposite of the younger son.

The older son comes in from working and hears a party going on. He finds out his younger brother had come home and his dad was celebrating his return. The older son got angry and would not go inside. The father comes and pleads with him to come in and celebrate with them. The above verses reveal his response. He got angry, declaring he had never transgressed his father’s commands, and his father had never thrown a party for him, but the moment this wayward son came home he has a celebration.

This older son believed he deserved a celebration because of what he had done, not because of who he was as a son to his father. His father responds and tells him that all he has was available to him. Why had this older son not enjoyed what was his by birthright? Because he was trying to earn what was already his. In the same way, we don’t earn our worth and what belongs to us because of what we have or have not done. It is ours because we have been born into the family of God, and therefore it is available to us by faith in who we now are in Christ Jesus.

If you are blessed by this post subscribe to my daily blog: http://www.pastorbaker.blog/subscribe
Christian Faith Fellowship – Ponder Texas http://www.cffchurch.com

Luke 15:21
And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

THE PRODIGAL SON – PART 1
Many have read or heard of the prodigal son story Jesus shared in Luke 15. Often the emphasis is on the son who had received his inheritance from his father and he went away and wasted his inheritance. But something that is rarely seen, and I believe is one of the most important parts of the story is revealed in both of these brothers. Let’s look at the first of these two brothers today.

This younger son who took his inheritance went to a far country, and after he had wasted his inheritance, he got a job feeding another man’s pigs. He would have gladly eaten the pigs food, but he was given nothing to eat. Realizing his father’s servants ate better than him, he goes home but he makes a powerful statement to his father in the above verse. He repented for what he had done, but he said he was not worthy to be called his son. The father surprises him by putting a rob, a ring, and new sandals on his son, and he even throws him a party.

The father was glad his son was home. He did not treat him like a servant, because he was still his son. This young man was trying to find his worth in what he had done. He belittled himself for how he had been living. No matter what we have done if we have been born again, we are still sons and daughters of God. We should repent for wrong living and return to our Father, but our worth is found in who we are as God’s children, not in our actions. What we do does not change who we are.

If you are blessed by this post subscribe to my daily blog: http://www.pastorbaker.blog/subscribe
Christian Faith Fellowship – Ponder Texas http://www.cffchurch.com

Ephesians 5:15-16
15 Therefore, pay careful attention to how you conduct your life — live wisely, not unwisely.
16 Use your time well, for these are evil days.

When you look at men and women of God who walk in great faith, and who understand and use their God-given authority, many wish they could be like them. Guess what, you can. So many Christians fail to recognize the key area that they need to deal with in their life to be able to attain that type of walk with God they say they want. What is that key ingredient? Time, and we all have the same amount of time each day.

We choose every day what we will do with the time we are given. If you look at any person from the natural standpoint that has gotten good at something, they did so because they devoted much time to that area of their life. What many don’t know is that devoting time to spiritual development makes a powerful impact on every part of your life. Many today will not take the time to get to church, or spend time in prayer, or reading the Word, etc. What the devil and your old fleshly nature will do is to get you to be foolish with your time.

We are all given the same 24 hours in a day. It is what we choose to focus on that determines what we do with the time we have been given. Put the kingdom of God first on your time list and all the things you need will be added unto you (Matt. 6:33). Ask God to help you to balance the use of your time. The difference with those who have a close walk with God, strong faith, and are spiritually mature, is how they use their time.

If you are blessed by this post subscribe to my daily blog: http://www.pastorbaker.blog/subscribe
Christian Faith Fellowship – Ponder Texas http://www.cffchurch.com

Jeremiah 32:17
‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

There is nothing too hard for God, and as a believer in Christ we need to be reminded of three powerful truths about our God. (Romans 8:31) – What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Here in Romans is the first of these three things. “GOD IS FOR YOU”. That’s right, as a born-again child of God He is not against you as some may think. The death of His Son proves He is for you. He wants you to live a victorious life.

(Hebrews 13:5-6) – 5 For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Here is the second key truth, “GOD IS WITH YOU”. Did you know you are never alone. God will NEVER leave you nor forsake you. Some say they feel God is far from them. They are going by feelings, not by His Word. He is always with you.

(1 John 4:4) – You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. The third truth you should never forget is that “GOD IS IN YOU.” Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. There is nothing too hard for your God, and wherever you go He is right there. Never forget He is FOR YOU, WITH YOU, and IN YOU, and therefore there is nothing to hard for you to overcome.

If you are blessed by this post subscribe to my daily blog: http://www.pastorbaker.blog/subscribe
Christian Faith Fellowship – Ponder Texas http://www.cffchurch.com