Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Daily Nugget: Paul’s concluding remarks to the Galatians (Galatians 6) left them with some good advice. His godly wisdom is good for all to keep in mind and practice.  Paul’s counsel includes: If someone has a weakness, and if you are a spiritual person, help him with his problem. That advice is contrary to what so many do when one is having difficulties (Galatians 6:1).  Too many talk about the dilemma of those that are hurting, ridicule them, blame them for their failures, and “kick them” when they are down instead of helping them up. Much of the time, those judging others do not know both sides of the story and are wrong in assessing the situation. Take other's hardships to your own heart. Bear the burdens of others (Galatians 6:2) as if they were your very own. There will be a time you will have difficulties, and you will wish others would call out to the throne room of God on your behalf. No matter how successful you think you are, do not fool yourself into thinking you ar

Daily Nugget: A Christian may be saved on the inside, but he will still fight the temptations of the flesh until the day he dies. Paul gives the only solution for keeping the sin-seeking human nature, that we were born with, at bay. That temptation-resisting advice is “… Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). To avoid life-controlling temptations, and often the life-ruining consequences they bring, be wary of where suggestions to do something arise. Recognize if the enticement comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit or what feels good to the flesh. Paul explained some “works of the flesh” so one can avoid them. They are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness (“lustfulness and indulgences of animal desires” 1), idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (“disputing that causes disagreement, discord, and dissensions” 1), emulations (“contentions” 1), wrath, strife, seditions (“causing commotion”), heresies, envyings, murders, drunken

Daily Nugget: Again, in this chapter, Paul discusses more about the law. He clarifies that under the law, the Jews were “children” and under bondage to its statutes (Galatians 4:3). Those under the law were commanded to serve, and if they did not, there were threats of penalty. Then something marvelous changed. All the Old Testament promises and pictures of future prophesied occurrences were fulfilled. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth (Galatians 4:4) and redeemed those under the law (Galatians 4:5). “Redeemed” is to “purchase or to obtain.” Jesus purchased us and paid for all our sins — every single one of them: past, present, and future! When we accept Jesus’ payment for our sins, we become adopted sons (Galatians 4:5). We are adopted into God’s family. No longer are we subject to the laws that helped us grow up and know right from wrong. They were only shadows to show us the Saviour (John 8:12). No longer are we servants to the schoolmaster’s laws (Galatians 3:24),

Daily Nugget: To the early believers in Galatia, obeying the Old Testament laws was part of their life and upbringing. If they were Jews, the commandments were drilled into them much of their life. Those laws were even a part of the gentile’s upbringing. The morality of those laws had done what God introduced them for, to teach many what was right and wrong (Galatians 3:24).  Even today, with few even attending church or reading their Bible, the law has still done its work in many hearts. It still convicts many to know what is right and what is not. When Christianity started spreading, its message was different. Instead of the strict enforcement of the law, its message had much to do with “faith.” They had to believe something that was not written down at the time, was talked negatively about in their temples, and could not be seen or proven. It was an “invisible” trust on their part. Faith was an old concept, but many never realized it was part of the Old Testament lives. When it w

Daily Nugget: The Old Testament laws are more than the commonly known Ten Commandments. There are hundreds of them covering morality, proper worship, social behavior, punishments for violations, and dietary restrictions. No one could ever go to Heaven by obeying the laws. Most do not even know them all, let alone keep them all. The purpose of the law was to: show man what sin is, to help man see he is guilty of sin, and that because of his sin, man cannot justify himself. God’s law is our teacher (Galatians 3:24) to show us we are not only sinners but because we cannot completely stop sinning, we cannot please God by our “perfection.” When Jesus came, He was the onetime sacrifice that paid for all man’s iniquities. Trusting Christ’s payment for all our sins, by faith (Galatians 2:16), is the only way anyone can be pardoned from sin (vs. 16). “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24 No one can be justified

Daily Nugget: In writing to churches (Galatians 1:2) in Galatia, Paul saw something in the churches that did not please him. He was concerned that they took what he taught them and changed it.  What Paul had taught them was given to the apostle as a revelation from Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:12). The Gospel was not open to discussion or change, yet that is what they were doing. They were preaching and teaching another “gospel” (Galatians 1:6) other than what they had first learned. Since there is only one Gospel, what they were teaching was false. It was a perversion of the truth (Galatians 1:7). Today, similar perversions are occurring. Many churches and denominations teach doctrines contrary to what is taught in the preserved King James Bible.  Even the perversions of the foundation of the truth, the Bible, are rampant everywhere. Over 300 different perversions of God’s Word in English further add to other teachings. The result is more confusion, fewer conversions, and many opinion

Daily Nugget: Throughout First and Second Corinthians, Paul frequently mentions those that continually brought up something that was still bothering them. Here it is mentioned in the preacher’s letter that some were still disputing if he were an apostle (II Corinthians 13:3). I can imagine that it was the topic of much accusations and gossip in the Corinthian church. Many doubted if Paul saw the Saviour, which qualified him as an apostle. In his letter to them, Paul gives them some wise advice that is useful when dealing with things that are said to us about others. That wisdom is to believe what we hear only if it can be established as a fact by two or three witnesses (II Corinthians 13:1). That wisdom would silence quite a bit of gossip if it were applied. Years ago, I dealt with several boys' argument in a high school classroom. The heated discussion was started because of something a boy had “heard” said about him from another.  Believing that it was unfounded gossip, I tracked

Daily Nugget: Paul was a man greatly used of God. With God’s helping hand, the evangelist survived shipwrecks, beatings, persecutions, imprisonments, and other ill-treatment. With His miraculous leadership, the minister for Christ was used in healings, revivals, and many miracles. However, as used by God as he was, Paul still had a personal aliment (II Corinthians 12:7). “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh , the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” II Corinthians 12:7 Commentators have strained at attempting to name Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.” God has chosen not to make it obvious to us what it was. No matter what it was, Paul made it clear that he faced an infirmity. Three times Paul pleaded with God to remove the malady from him (II Corinthians 12:8). God’s answer was “… My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness …” (II C

This week's Bible View is available at  https://www.thebibleview.com/2021/the-bible-view-793-church/ . The theme of this edition is on the "church."

Daily Nugget: One of Paul’s concerns for the church at Corinth was that it would fall to false teachings (II Corinthians 11:3). He was concerned that someone would preach “another Jesus” (II Corinthians 11:4). The preacher knew very well that there was only one Jesus. His sarcastic remark was to alert the Corinthians to be wary of one preaching any other doctrine than what Paul had taught them. Paul taught them the truth, undefiled, and often directly from God.  Even at that time, others were corrupting the truth. Those teaching their ideas and not what the Word of God said were not of God (II Corinthians 11:13-14). Paul warned the church that those teachers were motivated by none other than Satan (II Corinthians 11:14). They may have sounded or even looked “Christian,” however, their purpose was not to glorify God but to separate and weaken the believers. Satan’s ploy in this way is still going strong today. He does not have much imagination. Perhaps the enemy of God figures if it

Daily Nugget: Like so many Christians today, Paul faced some opposition from other Christians. Some in the churches he spoke at questioned his apostleship, and others accused him of walking in the flesh (II Corinthians 10:2). No matter the accusation, Paul chose not to fight back. He decided not to fight those who were carnal with his carnal retorts. He let his works for the Lord speak for themselves and let the Lord do the rest of the battling (II Corinthians 10:4-8). Many who attend a church has someone falsely accuse or suspect him of something or has his feelings hurt at least once. No church is perfect. Although Christians may occupy the ministry, none of them are sinless. Some members of the church family are more carnal than others. They understand things from a fleshly perspective and not how God sees them (II Corinthians 10:5). To make matters worse, they often voice their opinions about other members. When this is done, someone usually gets hurt. Too many, unfortunately, g

Daily Nugget:  The Corinthian church at first had to be rebuked for their spiritual immaturity and sin in their ranks. Apparently, they dealt with the challenges, and the church was growing spiritually. Now, instead of needing more attention, they could help others. Paul was sending brethren to their church (II Corinthians 9:3) and others to collect an offering to help other poorer saints. He originally told them about the offering in his previous letter to them (I Corinthians 16), and it was time for them to help others. The preacher exhorted them to give “bountifully” (II Corinthians 9:6) and to give cheerfully (II Corinthians 9:7). He also reminded them that if they sowed “sparingly”, they “shall reap also sparingly”. If they gave “bountifully”, they would “reap also bountifully”. This is the secret to reaping the blessings of the Lord: giving with the right attitude. As discussed in the II Corinthians 8 commentary, many are robbed of seeing God meet their needs because they will

Daily Nugget: Paul boasted of the giving of the churches of Macedonia (II Corinthians 8:1). They were poor people, but they gave liberally (II Corinthians 8:2). One reason they gave to Paul and the ministry was that they first gave themselves to the Lord (II Corinthians 8:5). The key to their generous giving was that their hearts were set to please the Lord with whatever they could do or whatever they had. “And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” II Corinthians 8:5 This submissiveness to the Lord has always been a stumbling block for many Christians. It is often the reason so many do not give. The Bible commands (Malachi 3:8-10) that every Christian should give at least 10% of what the Lord allows them to earn or make to Him. This is called “tithing.”  Many have refused to tithe. This shows God that they will not submit their giving to him (and then they wonder why their finances are not blessed and why p

Daily Nugget: Paul corrected the carnal Corinthian church in his writings to them. He got no joy out of rebuking them for their sin and weaknesses (II Corinthians 7:8). However, he rejoiced over the results of his correcting them. The weak ministry weighed his remarks about their sin. They found the accusations were correct, saw that it was wrong in God’s eyes, were sorrowful over their iniquities, and corrected their behavior (II Corinthians 7:8-10). Paul’s verbal stand against their wrong-doing helped them repent of what they were doing. As the Corinthian church had shown, repentance is usually the intent of every preacher who ministers to their congregation. They labor over the portion of the Scriptures God has lain on their heart to preach and deliver that message. Many times, the preacher would rather not say what he has to say. God’s man in the pulpit knows very well how some will react. The preacher has a duty, however (II Corinthians 7:12). His responsibility is to deliver t

  Daily Nugget: One principle that will distinguish a strong Christian from a weak one is taught here. Not adhering to God’s teaching on this doctrine has ruined many Christian lives and testimonies. It is the number one robber of joy, testimony, and growth of a child of God. The principle Paul taught here is the separation of a Christian from those who are not saved (II Corinthians 6:14-17). “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” II Corinthian 6:14 The double-negatived “not unequally yoked” in II Corinthians 6:14 can be confusing. It simply means “do not be yoked together with unbelievers.” Here, the yoke refers to the heavy, wooden implement that forces two farm animals to work together and go in the same direction. We should not be thinking, have the same goals, or go in the same spiritual direction as the unsaved. Christians should not be joined with non-belie

Daily Nugget: No one will escape the one part of life that is scary to so many: death (unless the rapture takes the Christians home to Heaven first!). Because of the uncertainty, most at one time or the other wonder what happens when their body dies. For those that are born-again, there is hope for a wonderful life after death (II Corinthians 5:1-2, 8). The Bible does not mention, as some cults teach, that when one dies that it will be the end. Physical death will not be the end because everyone has a soul that will live forever. It will live in either Heaven or Hell. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” II Corinthians 5:1  Also: II Corinthians 5:8. Because of God’s promise of Heaven, many “groan earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:” (II Corinthians 5:2). While battling infirmities, hardships, and heartaches on this earth, so ma

Daily Nugget: So many take the responsibilities of a Christian lightly. They hoard their salvation for themselves and do not share it. Many of their closest family members and friends may not even know of their salvation. Sharing the Good News that saved them rarely happens.  Paul, however, took his salvation and responsibilities seriously. This chapter lets us see how earnest he was in giving out what God had given him to share with the world. He did not let hardships get him off course from his burden to share the Gospel (II Corinthians 4:1). His persecutions, imprisonments, cruel treatments, and rejections did not deter him from his task (II Corinthians 4:8-10). Paul did his best to give the whole counsel of God, as honestly as he could (II Corinthians 4:2) to all he could. His testimony proved that in his uncompromising and courageous stand for the Truth. If the Gospel was hidden from anyone, at least on his watch, it was not his doing (II Corinthians 4:3). If it was concealed,