Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Missionary Arnold Skelton told of an interesting way that natives capture primates. Many hunters use their skill with bow and arrow, blowguns, and spears to kill monkeys. However, some clever hunters have figured out a way that monkeys can trap themselves. The hunter would scour the jungle looking for the right-sized, wild gourd. It would have to be large-sized and big around the middle. After the gourd had dried for several weeks, he would then cut a two-inch hole in the side and a smaller one in the top, where a rope could be put through the gourd, and it could be hung from a tree. He would then take the insides out of the gourd, leaving an empty hard-shelled trap that he would use to catch a monkey dinner. After finding the right place in the jungle where there were plenty of monkeys, he would hang his trap from a tree. In the center of the gourd-trap, he would place several handfuls of peanuts and then leave his monkey-catcher. In a short time, the curious creatures w...

Daily Nugget: Every church has its good and bad members. The church that John was writing to, found in this book, had several of both categories I am sure. However, the apostle wrote of three members in particular in this personal letter. Two of the members were good representations of what a Christian should be. Gaius was the “well-beloved” (vs. 1). He was most likely a friendly sort that many loved. Many reports from the church told John how Gaius was a blessing in the church family (vs. 3, 6), and how he attended to the needs of other Christians (vs. 5). It was evident by his care for the brethren that he truly loved the members of his church. Another blessing in the church was Demetrias. He also had good things said about him (vs. 12). These two were an encouragement to the apostle’s heart. It is always good and encouraging to hear how people get saved, get their hearts and lived changed by the Holy Spirit’s work, and go on to do much for the cause of Christ and people of God...

Daily Nugget: This epistle was written to a godly woman John had met in the past. In it, he summed up much of what he had said in I John and sent it to her personally. We know how important it is to preach and teach to as many as we can reach, but as this letter shows us, it is important to have one-on-one relationships with others also. In disciplining this woman, John addressed the issue of “not everyone that claims to be Christian is.” The apostle mentioned how those that “… abideth not in the doctrine of Christ” (vs. 9) should be treated. His advice was not that of many today, that somehow think it is the Christian way to tolerate anybody; no matter what they believe. John commanded that if some people denied Jesus is the Christ, and that He has come; we should not have fellowship with them or even invite them into our houses (vs. 10). Having fellowship with these unbelievers and even allowing them into our homes can have consequences. What would another believer think if he ...

Daily Nugget: In I John 3’s devotion, five proofs of one’s salvation were revealed. John made it quite clear that one can know for sure if one is saved or not. There are other assurances John also wanted Christians to know. In this chapter alone he used the word “know” four times (vss. 2, 13, 15), to let us be aware that there are other things we can also be assured of. They are: The assurance that we can overcome (vss. 4, 5) the world’s enticements, entanglements, and encouragements to live sinfully. We may be living in this world, but no longer do we have to be led by our fleshly urges to do what the flesh desires and lusts after. We are new creatures in Christ (II Cor. 5:17). Our faith in Christ as the author of our salvation and faith that He will help us through life can give us the victory in this life (vs. 4). We are on the winning side. We may have difficulties and battles, but we do not have to be defeated! The assurance that God will hear us and that we can have our r...

Daily Nugget: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” I John 4:1 Too many Christians are missing discernment in determining what is of God and what is not. This chapter starts off by urging believers to be wary of how they are influenced. Cults and many denominations are full of those that mean well, want to follow God, but end up following unbiblical, ungodly theologies and philosophies. A desire to please God is normal for most, but the failure to discern right from wrong often gets a person further away from God’s truths than they would ever expect. Most people are trusting. It is surprising what they will believe at times. John gives one keyword of advice in determining if something, or someone, is of God or not. That word is “try” (vs. 1). It means to “prove by testing”. As Ephesians 6 makes very clear, there is an unseen spiritual battle going all around us. This battle i...

Daily Nugget: After one is saved, it is often questioned, “Am I really saved? How can I know for sure?” This chapter helps answer some of those questions and doubts. The first proof is “Whosoever abideth in him [Jesus] sinneth not …” (vs. 6, I John 5:18). A normal reaction after reading that verse would be one of panic, “Oh, no I have sinned since I have been saved, therefore I must not be saved.” That is not what it is addressing here. It has been established all throughout the New Testament that even after we’re saved, we can still sin (Romans 3:10, 23). In I John 2:1, Christians are commanded not to sin, but if they do, they have an advocate (a person who defends one’s case in a court of law) in Christ. Why would we need an advocate, if we did not sin? There also is a long list of righteous men that sinned, including: Moses, Lot, David, and Peter. The soul may be saved, but the flesh they were born with still sins; if it is not controlled by the spirit. In verse 6, the word “si...

Daily Nugget: The deceptions of men were a problem that deeply troubled John as he continued discussing them in this chapter. He knew that the words that came out of some men’s mouths were not actually what they believed. By experience and the illumination from the Holy Spirit, he learned that a person’s true heart was often reflected by their deeds and actions. John learned that a person that claimed to be a believer but did not keep God’s commandments, was a liar (vs. 4). God’s truth was not in him when he claimed to be a child of God but did not do the things that God had commanded him to do. Going through life as a Christian, our ears, eyes, and discernment are often on others that claim the same faith. We are confused when we hear their profession of faith; yet clearly see that they are not living the life they are supposed to live. Although we scratch our heads at one that says one thing but lives another, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle’s writing simply says “… the tru...

Daily Nugget: In starting the first of his three letters, John the Apostle bluntly covers two areas where many are not completely honest with themselves about. These areas are: When people claim to be in fellowship with God, but are not. “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” I John 1:6 Many times folks fool even themselves into believing that they can talk to God, and He is listening to them, answering them, and they are in full fellowship even when they are in sin. They are lying to themselves. It is impossible for a believer to have close fellowship with God when there is sin in their life! God hates sins, and although people do not lose their salvation when they fall for sin’s enticement after they are saved, they certainly grieve Him (Ephesians 4:30). That grieving will cost all a close relationship with God. The only remedy for that broken relationship is to turn from sin (Acts 8:22), and again “… walk in the light …” ...