Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Daily Nugget: This chapter teaches a principle that the world, including our public educational system, has not understood for quite some time. Again and again, it is taught that “you are the most important person,” and that building one’s self-esteem should be a priority. That is the opposite of what the Bible teaches. Here in this chapter, the Philippians are reminded that instead of building up one’s own pride, that they should make another’s needs more important than their own. Instead of being prideful about ourselves, we should be humble. “… but in lowliness of mind …” (vs. 3). Verse three goes on to say that we should “… esteem other better than themselves.” Instead of being number one, we should be lower in the rank. Meeting others’ needs should be important in our lives. Some would be quick to retort, “It wouldn’t be healthy for me if I didn’t feel good about myself.” It is not talking about “feeling good about yourself” here. If you put others’ needs above your own, ...

Daily Nugget: Most people, Christian’s included, have much fear and anxiety about their death. Paul had a much different outlook on his. His attitude was that his life here on this earth was more important to other’s than to him (vs. 24). He considered death a gain to him, rather than a great loss. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21 That is a much different view than those living for the party scene would have. They look forward to constant excitement and a party life. If they could not be partying, they would not be happy. The thought of death and the next life would not be something they would look forward to, as it would be different from what they like. Self-centered people get their enjoyment when they are the center of attention: when their needs are catered to. He also would fear an eternal future, where he was not in the position to get what he wanted and run the show. One seeking political power and money is satisfied when he is ru...

This week's Bible View (#685) is available at:  http://openthoumineeyes.com/newsletters.html .  The theme this week is Christmas.

Praise is bestowing compliments “on a person for his personal virtues or worthy actions is the praise book of the Bible with the word “praise” mentioned 132 times. …”, as Noah Webster explained it. Psalms It is very important to God, and should be to us, to praise God for all the wonderful things He has done in our lives.  He never tires of our praising Him. We are to praise Him, as we are reminded in Psalms, because: He is righteous. “And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.” Psa. 35:28   Also: 7:17, 48:10. He deserves it! “I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.” Psa. 9:2  Also: Psa. 69:34, 71:8,  98:4, 107:32, 135:3. He is powerful and mighty! “Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.” Psa. 21:13   Also: Psa.22:23, 28:7, 150:2. All of His creation praises Him, and so should we. “Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, a...

Daily Nugget: Finishing his letter to the Ephesians, Paul reminds them of one important fact that they and we should never forget. We need to remember that there is a daily spiritual battle going on. We cannot see the enemy, or who the battle is against, but it constantly rages. The battle is not between people that we think are the reason for our many conflicts. The root goes beyond those we do not get along with or those who seem to be making our lives miserable. We struggle “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (vs. 12). A “principality” is a supreme power and can be the territory of a prince. Since Satan is the “prince of the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2), and is the author of much spiritual wickedness, it is he that is often the instigator of many of the troubles we face. With this in mind, we need to remember our battle is not against our parents, a person we work with, our ne...

Daily Nugget: The Scripture reading today discusses a subject which bristles the hair on the back of many necks. It takes a position that has been hated and rebelled against for generations. Unfortunately, the refusal to follow God’s commandments in this area has resulted in a current divorce rate higher than 50%. Paul discusses, in verses 21-33, submissiveness between a married man and woman. Submitting, according to Noah Webster, is the yielding or surrendering to an authority. The first surrendering of authority discussed here is for both husband and wife to surrender to each other (vs. 21), because they have respect for God’s commandments! They are to submit to each other because God tells them to, and they should know God’s way is always best. God ordained the union between man and woman, so He certainly knows how it will work. No other way will be successful! A wife is to also submit to her husband (vs. 22). When she is humbling herself to do so, she is doing it “unto the L...

Daily Nugget: One of the most valuable assets a Christian can have is his testimony. What others think of him is often what they see him do, how he reacts in certain situations, and how they believe a Christian should be living (although their view may not always be accurate). Paul gave some advice on how to preserve that testimony (Eph. 4). Some of his advice included: Do not live like the rest of the world and put the wrong value on things that are really not that important (vs. 17-18). Do not lust after things of this world, and be consumed with greed for them (vs. 19). Do not let your conversation with others be about lust for this world’s things (vs. 22). Live a righteous life and strive to be a good example (vs. 24). Let your conversation always be honest, and do not lie (vs. 25). If you get angry, get it right with those involved before the sun goes down (vs. 26). Do not get close to sin, and allow the devil to destroy your testimony (vs. 27). Do not steal, but work h...

By Rev. Alexander Hislop Many Christian holidays, have their true meanings and even the time they occurred altered The Two Babylons : by false religion’s influence. Christmas, unfortunately, is one of those days. Although Christ was definitely born on this earth, and all the Bible says about Him is true, false religions and their effort to get people to accept their false teachings successfully merged their doctrines with those of Christianity. Here is some of the history behind how December 25th was adopted to be the day of Christ’s birth, according to Rev. Alexander Hislop’s “ … The festivals of [Catholic] Rome are innumerable; but five of the most important may be singled out for elucidation: Christmas day, Lady day, Easter, the Nativity of St. John, and the Feast of the Assumption. Each and all of these can be proved to be Babylonian. And first, as to the festival in honour of the birth of Christ, or Christmas. “… How comes it that that festival was connected with the 25...