Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

  Daily Nugget: “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:” Psalm 124:2 In Psalm* 124, the Psalmist recognizes how Israel had often been victorious. Here, the hymn-writer reminded his people how God’s people were delivered from the Egyptians as they fled the Pharaoh’s wrath. It was not their strength, ingenuity, wisdom, or riches that were used to rescue them from overwhelming odds. It was God that delivered them. Those in this church age also can credit the same Deliverer for his merciful help in their time of need. If it were not for God’s help, most of us would still be in a valley of despair with little help of being pulled out of it. Most, when asked, can readily recall answered prayers and God’s help at the right time. Just imagine if those prayers were unheard. The same plague of powerlessness would still be prevailing. We would be stuck or stopped because we had no help to pull us out of the ditch of distress, but the Lord helped us overcome

  Daily Nugget: Psalm 121 focused on the excitement a Hebrew pilgrim experienced as He approached the city of worship, Jerusalem. Psalm 122 expressed the joy as a believer saw the place of worship, the Temple. Psalm 123 shares the root of why the worshippers were excited. It was God, they were eager to be nearer. Their faith was not based on one place, but on the God of all. He was the One they loved, respected, and the One to whom they desired to be closer. Today should be no different. Church is wonderful. It is a place to be encouraged, serve God, and receive spiritual food and blessings. The saved members are part of our Christian family. It should be a blessing to be around them. However, the real reason we should be excited about church attendance is that we can hear from God and worship Him. Is that the real reason you are going to church? Hopefully, you are not just attending so you can have fellowship, meet pretty girls, get more business contacts, get rid of your guilt from n

  Daily Nugget: “ A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Psalm 122:1 As Israel made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem, they were excited as the city came into focus. They were delighted when they could see and enter the Temple area. It was there sacrifices were given to God, and worship of Him was done. The Temple was the center of Jewish worship. Because of what Jesus did for all sinners, we no longer need the Temple in Jerusalem to be our focal point of worship. One trusting Christ as their one-time sacrifice for their iniquities no longer must have a Temple priest perform a blood sacrifice to temporarily have one’s sins forgiven. Jesus is now their “high priest” (Hebrews 4:14). Although we do not have to journey to the Temple in Jerusalem, there is a place we can go to hear the Word of God read, listen to a message God has given to a local spiritual shepherd, sing praises to our Lord and fellowship with other like-minded bel

  Daily Nugget: “A Song of degrees. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help” Psalm 121:1. As many pilgrimaged to the Temple in Jerusalem, they knew they were nearing their destination when they saw the many hills that surrounded the place of worship. However, it was not the hills that helped them in their time of need (Psalm 121:1). It was God on the other side of the hilly terrain that was their benefactor. It was Him that they were anxious to see and be near. It was the great God and Creator that was their help. “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:2). God had proven Himself worthy to relied upon repeatedly to the people of Israel. They experienced that God: Would lead them in the right direction. He would always guide them in the way He desired them to live, experience, and serve Him (Psalm 121:3) if they allowed Him to do so. Never slept and was always alert and attentive to His people’s needs (Psalm 121:3-4). Was the

  Daily Nugget: Psalm 120, and those up to Psalm 134, are called “Songs of Degrees.” There are different explanations of what the usage of them was. Many believe that some were sung while traveling to the Temple for worship. However, like so many Psalms, there is a practical, everyday application that can be learned from this hymn. In this song, the frustration of damage done by lying lips is mentioned. For many, dishonesty is not recognized for what it is; it is a sin. Like any iniquity, it does damage to the offender and often others. It is understandable why the hymn-writer would bemoan such misuse of one’s lips. Some reasons lying is harmful is: Relationships are built on trust. How could a person rely on or believe what another has said if they have a history of dishonesty? A relationship built on lies will usually crumble when the truth is discovered. Often decisions are made on the words of another. When the utterances are not trustworthy, others make wrong decisions based on wh

  Since this is such a long chapter, it will remain posted for three days. It can also be heard at www.DevotionsFromTheBible.com (in three parts). Daily Nugget: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Psalm 119:18 The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119. Of the 176 verses, all but six (Psalm 119:84, 90, 120-122, 132) directly mention God’s Word, the different ways it is important, and how it can affect one’s life. When God tells us something once, we should listen and obey. When we hear or read it more than twice, we should know that God wants our attention on the matter. When the principle is stated at least 176 times in one chapter alone, there should be no hesitation or question in understanding what God wants us to know. In this case, God wants us to pay strict attention to the words He has preserved for us, read them, and obey them. The most commonly used words to describe God’s words in this chapter are: commandments, His ways, judgments, la

  Daily Nugget: This Psalm is filled with prophecies that were fulfilled. It speaks of the Messiah’s, Jesus’, coming. Some say on the fateful night our Saviour was apprehended to be “judged” that this was the hymn (Matthew 26:30) that He and His disciples sang. We recognize that some of this Psalm was also quoted by Jesus. Although there is spiritual and prophetical gold throughout this chapter, there are statements in this Psalm that show the way of salvation for us today. The unknown Psalm writer states that there is a way to be righteous. That way was referred to as the “gate of the LORD.” Only through this entrance can anyone have their sins forgiven, forgotten, and have a future in Heaven and eventually on the New Earth. “Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: 20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.” Psalm 118:19-20 Jesus defines who that gateway is. It is not goodness, good deeds, religious rituals, or follo

  Daily Nugget: Many previous Psalms reminded the hymn-singers of God's great mercy and proved He is worthy of praise. However, this Psalm includes an adjective about Him mentioned in only two other Psalms (Psalm 31:26, 119:76) — His kindness. Mercy is “tenderness of heart, which disposes a person to overlook injuries or to treat an offender better than he deserves” (Noah Webster, American Dictionary of the English Language, 1828). Combined with “kindness,” we realize why God gives us His undeserved tenderness.” He gives us his mercy because of His goodwill. God does all He does, not because He has to, but because He has a “disposition which delights in contributing to the happiness of others, which is exercised cheerfully in gratifying their wishes…” (N. Webster). God is kind, and if we want to be Christ-like, it would be to this society’s advantage if we too showed the kindness attribute more in our life. We now live in a world that has drifted far away from being helpful and tho

Daily Nugget: “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2 One of the advantages of being a child of God is we get to talk to our great Father in Heaven. He not only hears our complaints, pleas, and supplications, but He answers our requests. Some take this ability to communicate with our Creator lightly. However, it is a privilege and honor to converse with Him. Who are we that He would incline “his ear unto me”? He is God. There is nothing He needs. He owes us nothing, yet He listens to our prayers. What a blessing it is to speak to the One that is responsible for all on this Earth, yet that privilege is often neglected. Sadly, it usually takes a catastrophe in one’s life until one reaches out to the Solver-of-Our-Situations. Perhaps that is why many have more “emergencies” than normal, just so their helplessness is realized, and He is tur

  Daily Nugget: The heathen in early Israel plagued God’s people, as they do today throughout the world. Out of their ignorance, they often taunt, “Where is now their God?” (Psalm 115:2). They justify their lack of belief in God because He is not “seen,” at least by them. However, their “religion” is not proven by sight or experience. The ungodly may have made themselves idols to worship, as today and in biblical days. Still, they have no proof of their deity’s power and being alive. Perhaps their lavish false gods or religions may be impressive with rich beauty (Psalm 115:4), but their worship is man-made and false.  Many false religions, particularly in idolatry, may exhibit human traits, but their “god” is only a figment of man’s imaginative creation (Psalm 115:4). It cannot speak (Psalm 115: 5), see (Psalm 115:5), hear (Psalm 115:6), smell (Psalm 115:6), touch (Psalm 115:7), and cannot walk (Psalm 115:7). Some religions, that claim to have one deity, have to admit it has shown anyo

  Daily Nugget: In the last several Psalms, there was an emphasis on praising God. One way to praise God properly is to give Him credit for what He has done in the past. Psalm 114 does that. It reminds the singer of this hymn some of the great things God has done for His people in the past. The mighty things God has done for his people, Israel, have been rehearsed in this Hebrew song. It reminds the singers that: God freed Israel from their bondage in Egypt (Psalm 114:1). God was close to His people (Psalm 114:2), and they worshiped Him. God parted the Red Sea during Moses’ leadership and again when Joshua led Israel through the Jordan River (Psalm 114:3 ). God led them over obstacles, like mountains (Psalm 114:4-6). God even shook the Earth, showing His power to Israel and several times disciplining them for their sin. God did the impossible for His people many times, including providing water from a rock. We should not only remember what God has done for His people in the past, but i

  Daily Nugget: Psalm 113 gives God the glory and praises the Lord. According to J. Vernon McGee, this Psalm was most likely sung “at the Passover Feast, the Feast of Pentecost, the Feast of Tabernacles, and other feasts.” Even today, in this church age, all worship services and private devotions should also praise the Lord. Repeatedly, in Psalms and other books of the Bible, praising the Lord is an integral part of worship. Commending God for what he has done, showing our gratitude, and giving Him credit for His works is so important. I always wondered if more would praise God properly, would many man-made false doctrines that infest wrong thinking and unbiblical religions disappear? When He is glorified the way He should be, most notions that man can live without following His commandments and without God’s help will vanish.  Praising God gives us the proper perspective that we can do little without His guidance and help. Giving Him credit is a humbling act that admits we can do so l

  Daily Nugget: P salm 111 ended by stating the importance of “fearing” the Lord (Psalm 11:10).   Chapter 112 continues with reasons for making it a priority to reverence and respect our God.   Those who honor the Lord in faith and obedience to what the preserved Word of God tells a Christian to do will have a changed life.   Psalm 112 states many blessings and special treatments God will do in an obedient believer’s life.   They include: ·      Being blessed (Psalm 112:1).  God will do things in one’s life that the ungodly will never experience. It is worth it all to love and follow the Lord’s commandments.   A believer’s family and the following generations will also be blessed (Psalm 112:2).  I remember reading of at least one study over many decades. One followed the ancestors of a godly and obedient believer.   Many in that person’s life were blessed by being used by God.   Their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were also blessed by being preachers, doctors, and a

  Daily Nugget: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” Psalm 111:10 When the first part of Psalm 111:10 is quoted, many get indignant. “What kind of God is He that we should fear him?” is a common reply. I do not back myself in a corner and shiver and shake when a coral snake comes my way. However, I fear what could happen if he is angered and threatened by me. It would be stupidity not to fear such a venomous creature. I do my best to keep my distance from that deadly reptile. When there is a raging fire close to me, I do not break out in a cold sweat and cry when I see its damaging tongues of flame. However, I do fear the damage a fire can do. I greatly appreciate anything that can do harm and fear what it can do. Likewise, it is common sense to fear God Almighty. He is powerful. He created all we see in six days. The God of creation also controls all around us: the weather, our foo

Daily Nugget: “ A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” Psalm 110:1 The first verse in the prophetic Psalm 110 makes an interesting statement: “The LORD said unto my Lord …”. “LORD” refers to Jehovah, the Almighty. The other “Lord” refers to a divine controller and master, but who is that “Lord”? Psalm 110 defines who the “Lord” is.  The other “Lord” is Jesus, as scriptures indicate: Jesus is often referred to as sitting at the right hand of His Father, God. "This Jesus hath God raised up … 33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted … 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool.” Acts 2:32-35   In Acts 2, we see Jesus is sitting at God’s right hand until God makes his enemies Jesus’ footstool. The verses in Acts 2 even quotes parts of Psalm 110. Hebrews 1:13 also menti

  Daily Nugget: David found himself surrounded by many that wished for the worse and harm to him (Psalm 109:2-5). He certainly is not alone in that situation.  Too frequently, one that attempts to do what is morally, biblically, and socially correct is met with much opposition, as did David. Often, many believe what is right is evil, and what is sinful is good. They corrupt God’s principles and replace them with their own. Sadly, we see this today, especially in politics and throughout our society. “And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.” Psalm 109:5 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20 David, as do so many when they are wronged, wished the worse on his adversaries. The wounded and hurt may want the wrongdoers punished, but it is the judging God that will do His will and way on those that break His commandments and wish harm on God’s