Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Daily Nugget: Too many Christians are not the examples they need to be. They go through life unhappy, complaining, and defeated. The world sees this and sees little difference between Christ-believers and those that do not claim to be His disciples. Believers are on the winning side. We may have difficulties and trials, as do the lost, but we have hope. We should be grateful and show it with a joyful spirit and be living evidence for a wonderful and working-in-lives God. It should be our goal to have the world see our grateful testimony of God’s goodness in our life. Even if we do not have a pleasant singing voice, it will give God the glory and more attention to Him if on-lookers hear us sing or hum hymns as we go about our day (Psalm 66:1-2). They need to know our minds are on Christ every day, not just on Sunday. They would have a better opinion of Christians if they overheard us giving praise for something God has done in our life. Those around us need to see and know t

Daily Nugget: This Psalm reminds the reader of many things for which he should be grateful. God should be continually praised for: His help: For answered prayer (Psalm 65:2). For helping us overcome and avoid our sins (Psalm 65:3). For using and accepting us for His glory (Psalm 65:4). Who are we that the Holy God would choose to use us for His purpose if we allow Him? His mightiness: For helping us, no matter where we are (Psalm 65:5). For keeping this world stabilized (Psalm 65:6). The world is falsely panicking about the world falling apart. Because they do not know God and trust Him, they do not see how He controls everything. For controlling the seas (Psalm 65:7). Again, this verse contradicts the world’s thinking that God cannot maintain His creation, and somehow, they have to control it. His creation: For keeping the Earth stable (Psalm 65:8). The sun rises every morning and sets in the evening. It will always do that until God creates a new Earth (Revelation 21:1). The fear the

  Daily Nugget: “Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: 3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:” Psalm 64:2-3 One of the most dangerous weapons David feared, as do people today, is the damage done by the tongue. Many of the problems all have faced usually start as words intended to plant doubt, suggestions of wrong-doing, and divisiveness. “These six things doth the LORD hate:… 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-18 Most that are disenchanted are cowards allowing their tongues to do what they dare not to do face to face. They rarely go to the one they have a problem with directly and try to solve the situation. Instead, they pour their poison in private, where their enemies cannot hear the gossip and defend themselves. The sin of gossip, backbiting, and planting seeds of discord has always existed.

  Daily Nugget: “A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;” Psalm 63:1 As in previous Psalms, we learn of an attitude, priority, and practice all believers should adopt in their life. That spiritual habit should be to start one’s day with God on his mind and seeking His will and way — “… early will I seek thee ….”  We also notice that David ended his day meditating on the things of God. Throughout his day, he engulfed his thinking on the principles taught in the Word of God. He continually remembered what the Spirit of God was teaching and had taught him — from morning to night. It is more difficult to fall spiritually when one’s mind is constantly on God and His Word. “When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.” Psalm 63:6 David understood this sin-soaked world has little to satisfy a spiri

  Daily Nugget: “To   the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm   of David . Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation.” Psalm 62:1  Also: Psalm 62:5. One of the most common weaknesses found in Christians is impatience. Many want what they desire now and often wonder why God takes so long to answer their requests. “Why, it’s already been 24 hours, and God still has not answered my need.” God is then written off as a “no show,” and the fretful one attempts to fix the problem himself. Usually, the impatient do-it-your-selfer cannot solve the situation and often regrets their decision and solution. Sometimes, their seizing the situation prolongs and worsens the circumstances they were facing. David learned early that he must wait for God. God hears the prayers of His people. His Father in Heaven was the only one that knew and always did the right thing. With his confidence in Him, it was a matter of time before He intervened in the situation, so David just waited for God

Daily Nugget: “To the chief Musician upon Neginah, A Psalm of David. Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.” Psalm 61:1 David reveals an important ingredient that should be in more prayers — a cry. A “cry” is a desperate utterance, often accompanied by heartfelt tears.  Unfortunately, prayers are not the sincere pleas in times of distress they should be. For many, their prayers are more like a list a child hopes Santa Claus will fulfill. Their “prayer” usually goes something like: “Gimmee this and gimme that. Oh, yea. Bless Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Frank, and keep the bullies away. Oh Lord, could you give me an ‘A’ in Arithmetic.” Sadly, “lists” are the most popular form of talking to God. Occasionally, one will open a prayer book and recite what someone else has written and labeled to be prayed in the situation one finds oneself. Prayer to a Christian is communicating with a Holy God. He owes us nothing, but we are indebted to Him for everything. It is an honor and priv

  Daily Nugget: Psalm 60 referred to the historical event when David got the victory over the Edomites. However, as do most of the Psalms, there is something that one can relate to in their own life. There are times some have the feeling David had when he knew He was not in fellowship with the Lord. He sensed something was different between him and His relationship with the Lord. David knew he and Israel had displeased God, and he desired His heavenly Father’s help, guidance, and fellowship again. “… O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.” Psalm 60:1 We are joyous over the times we know God is close, and we see His hand in our lives every day. We pray, and we see His answers. Miraculously, we see his blessings in our lives. They are wonderful days, but something happens. Those feelings disappear. For some, those God-filled days are only a dim memory. Frantically, we search our lives. We know God would nev

Daily Nugget: “Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men. 3 For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.” Psalm 59:2-3 Readers of the Psalms notice there were many attempts on David’s life. The account in Psalm 59 references when King Saul’s spies were watching younger David for an opportunity to kill him. It is referring to the attempt mentioned in I Samuel 19:11-21 where people, at least five times, were sent to keep their eye on David. In verse three, we are made aware of something all Christians must be wary of today. Many are always watching us and how we live our lives. David’s observers were watching him to kill him, but not because of something horrible he had done or for his “sin” (Psalm 59:3). Their eyes were on David because King Saul was jealous of the future leader’s success and popularity. Many, especially in recent years, are angry and watching Chris

  Daily Nugget: Throughout the Bible, Old and New Testaments, man is declared and shown as a sinner. Psalm 58 reinforces what most instinctively know about themselves; we trespass God’s commandments. All are guilty of iniquity. None are free from that plague on all mankind. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23 Many think God is only concerned about the “big” sins, like murder, adultery, and robbery. This Psalm lists transgressions that are ignored and not given attention and concern. However, they are still against God’s laws. Many iniquities that are not addressed and not thought sinful are: Failure to speak righteously (Psalm 58:1), Judging others (Psalm 58:1), Wicked hearts (Psalm 58:2),Violent actions and thoughts (Psalm 58:2), Lying (Psalm 58:3), A venomous tongue (used in deceit, backbiting, spreading discord — Psalm 58:4), And not listening to wisdom, common sense,

Daily Nugget: “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.” Psalm 57:7 Psalm 57 reflects David’s gratefulness for God’s deliverance from the angry hands of King Saul (I Samuel 22-24). However, the leader’s trust, expressed in Psalm 57:7, should also be the character of every Christian. That trait should be “steadfastness,” a determination to go forward when uncertainty and fear loom ahead. When being chased by the enemy, King Saul, David’s heart was fixed. He knew it was all under God’s control, even as uncertain and fearful as his future was. He knew somehow he would be delivered. David was steadfast in his trust and faith in the Lord. A Christian needs the same steadfast faith as did David in what is faced. When the doctor gives a fearful prognosis, one should not doubt God. Nor should one shake his fist and blame his heavenly Father, whose will and way for that person may be carrying out.  If a job is lost and the fear of financial failure seems imminen

Daily Nugget: Fear is an emotion that all experience. David wrote about his fearful feelings often. Here he is admitting that he was struggling with many things that made him afraid. David faced enemies daily (Psalm 56:1-2). Peace must have escaped him, as he was often wary of attacks. Not knowing who or where he would be confronted, physically or mentally would have most people on edge. The leader faced battles. His enemies twisted his words around (“wrest”) — Psalm 56:5. Often, I imagine, David had to defend himself from their convoluted remarks and slander, much like those hurled at President Trump. Often, what was said against the president was misinterpreted and bent to make him look bad. Having what you have said being constantly misquoted and questioned would have anyone on the alert. His adversaries constantly watched what he was doing to find something that could be misconstrued as being wrong. David was under the intense scrutiny of many who wanted him to fail or

  Daily Nugget: “For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13 But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.” Psalm 55:12-14 All have acquaintances who make life more difficult. Some, we consider our enemies. Often, after recognized that they are not our friends, we avoid them. However, there is an opposition with which it is most difficult with which to deal. It is those that we consider our friends or those we have spent a lot of time with that break our hearts after turning against us. People we thought we could rely on crush our confidences and expectations the most when they let us down. David had such adversaries. People that guided him, those that he knew fairly well, those that shared advice, and even those that went to temple with

Daily Nugget: God is a believer’s help and guardian at all times. David attested to this after many wronged him, including when he was betrayed in the wilderness of Ziph (I Sam. 23:14-25). In Psalm 54, David recounted his experience with the Ziphites who told the pursuing King Saul where he and his band of warriors were hiding (I Sam. 23:19). The Ziphites spied on David and reported to Saul the whereabouts of the small army. David and his troop had to avoid angry Saul, his army, and the Ziphites. The trials and dangers seemed to increase. No matter the situation, be it advancing troops, betrayal, or any other obstacle we experience, there is a way to summon help. David took advantage of that spiritual tool and prayed for God’s help (Psalm 54:2-3). Reading the end of I Samuel 23 (vss. 27-28), we see God did what seemingly was impossible and answered David’s plea. It was no coincidence that the Philistines invaded Saul’s land and the King had to break off chasing David. I

Daily Nugget: Except for a few word changes and a compiled sentence, Psalm 14 and 53 are much the same. This chapter also talks about people that have existed since man’s beginning. It speaks of those that deny the existence of God. God’s Word makes it quite clear that those God-deniers are “fools.” David also warned that they are corrupt and certainly should not be trusted, even though they boast of their accomplishments. God sees their deeds as abominable (Psalm 53:1), and there is nothing “good” about them. A closer study shows that the atheist referred to here is a unique kind of fool. In verse one, the Hebrew word for “fool” is “nabal.” Nabal was a man that married Abigail in I Samuel 25. Nabal was an unreasonable, rude (“churlish”) man (I Samuel 25:3). Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines this type of fool with even stronger language. Mr. Webster declares such foolish people as “stupid, wicked, vile persons.” There are many today that, when asked about their be

  Daily Nugget: Although many writers dwell on the prophecies in this chapter, there is also a lesson to be learned from an event in David’s life. This Psalm was David’s recollection of when he was fleeing the jealous and angry King Saul. An Edomite “set over the servants of Saul” (I Sam. 22:9), Doeg, informed Saul that David had fled and was being helped by priests at Nob. Saul then ordered Doeg to kill over 85 priests (I Samuel 22:18), and the wicked man obeyed the command of Saul. This Psalm reveals what David knew about the informer. He knew Doeg to be a: Braggart (Psalm 52:1), Mighty warrior (Psalm 52:1), Person who used his tongue to stir up trouble (Psalm 52:2), Person who loved evil “more than good” (Psalm 52:3) and lying more than truth, Person whose speech was deceptive (Psalm 52:4) and had a plan to hurt and destroy others. (Sounds like many of our politicians and others today.) As evil as Doeg was, David knew the man would not get away with his sin (Psalm 52

Daily Nugget: The song of David in Psalm 51 records a time in his life where the king had a broken, repentant heart. It occurred after the leader had been rebuked by Nathan, the prophet, for the leader’s sins of adultery and allowing the death of a woman’s husband (II Sam. 2:1-19). King David’s iniquity, which he kept private, was made public by God’s prophet, and it broke David’s heart. Although the leader lived with the guilt of his sins, Nathan’s accusation changed the leader's heart.  Most are also guilty of sin against God, but many hide it, forget about it, and never get it right with the Lord. David could not hide it any longer and did what every person in his situation should do. He was honest to himself about how he sinned against God and repented (turned away from) of his iniquities. Although so many, when caught or exposed with their hands in the sin-jar, ignore guilty feelings (which may be the Holy Spirit bringing it to light so it can be dealt with) and ju

  Daily Nugget: Psalm 50 is a powerful song reminding the hearer of something all fear — judgment. It is this frightful, gnawing thought that has led many to salvation to escape the judging hand of God. In this Psalm, it is addressing judgment for the Jews in the last days. However, there is a judgment that all should be wary. Sin and all people will be judged.  Many are facing judgments for their sins, actions, or lack of doing what they should do now. There is a wage for all evil. No one, including nations, will get away with sin.  “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Gal. 6:7 Many fear judgment after this life, but it can also occur today. God’s dissatisfaction with us is not always expressed by lightning flashing out of the sky or a “natural” phenomenon. Sometimes His wrath is poured out with failed harvests, hardened hearts, the influx of foreigners, loss of freedoms, lost wars, pestilences, plagues, poverty, and spiritual bl