Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

Daily Nugget: “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.” Mark 7:15 Outward appearances mask the real nature of a person. We cannot go by what we see to know the spiritual condition of a person. How people dress, how they behave on Sunday, how they speak are only outward signs, and they do not show the true spirituality of a person. The actual nature of a person is buried deep within one’s heart. This “heart” is not the beating blood pump; It is the true nature of a man that will prevent or permit him to do certain things. Jesus knows the real “heart” of a person. He is the expert on the condition of man, and He tells us that nothing outside one’s body can contaminate the true mindset of a person. Eating certain foods, downing intoxicating drinks, and other outside enticements do not defile anyone. In the case of foods and drinks, they go in and later are dismissed fr...

Daily Nugget: When Christ taught in the synagogue (Mark 6:2), many realized the way He taught, and the things He said were different than anything they had ever heard before. They wondered where He had gotten such wisdom and mighty power. He was God in the flesh, so His message was straight from the Creator of the universe’s mouth. Of course, it was preaching like no one had ever heard before or since, because of whom the orator was. Although nothing like the delivery by the Son of God Himself, today’s preaching from God’s Word may reveal truths that some have never heard. It is not unusual when a born-again child of God talks of spiritual things, that an unsaved person responds, “I have never heard anything like that before.” The message from God, no matter who is used by God to deliver it, is often astonishing to an unsaved person. A person may have attended church their whole life or even considered themselves “religious,” but if God was not involved in the delivery of the Wo...

Daily Nugget: Mark 5 brings to light a frightening but true account. A man was possessed by at least 2,000 devils. Hollywood movies try to glorify this occurrence of demonic possession as something “cool” and interesting. When an unholy spirit has any control in an unsaved man, it is not “cool.” It is devastating. This account, found in Mark 5:1-20, show us what demonic spirits can do to a life. They: Can make a person live a dirty, unpleasant life (Mark 5:2). Make the person uncontrollable (Mark 5:3). Make the person live in poor conditions. Here the man lived in tombs (Mark 5:3). Often encourage the person to be more interested in the dead than the living (Mark 5:3). Often give the person supernatural, destructive strength (Mark 5:3-4).  Leave the person’s life distressed with no peace (Mark 5:5). Rob the person of any joy in their life (Mark 5:5). Tears and sadness can show one has a distraught, hopeless life. Encourage the person to destroy his body and life (Mar...

Daily Nugget: Mark 4 sums up how people deal with God’s Word. Jesus explained those ways using the “Parable of the Sower.” The farmer in this teaching parable was Jesus, Matthew 13:37 identifies the “sower” of seeds to be the Saviour. “He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man;” Mat. 13:37 In the parable, the sower went into a field and disbursed seed. The seed represents the Word of God. Jesus summarized (Mark 4:3-8) what folks do with God’s truths. Later, in Mark 4:14-20, the Son of God explained what the parable meant. The four choices one can make in obeying God’s commandments and truths are: “And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:” Mark 4:4 Some hear God’s Word, perhaps accidentally, but before applying His Truths to one’s life or before they are mulled over, Satan robs those thoughts out of one’s mind. Perhaps it is another’s snide remark Satan uses that invalidates obeying a...

Daily Nugget: “And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day; that they might accuse him.” Mark 3: 2 In Mark 3, it is read that the Son of God healed many that were sick and possessed. Instead of lining the streets and having a ticker-tape parade to show their gratitude, they watched him carefully to see if they could find Jesus doing something wrong. The crowd that was usually looking for Him to fail was composed of “religious” folk. Today is no different. If the "religious" were looking for the Son of God to fail, Christians can undoubtedly expect similar treatment today. When someone hears we are a Christian, they carefully observe our lives. If they find us doing something wrong, in their eyes, they gleefully point and sneer, “Some Christian he is,” or “Hypocrite!” Well, they can look all they want, and if they look long and carefully enough, they will find us doing something wrong. We may be born-again on the inside, but we still must conten...

Daily Nugget: Jesus always attracted a crowd. Most of the people wanted something from Him for themselves. In this chapter (Mark 2:1-12), we see four that were more concerned about their friend’s need than they were of their own. I am sure that these men had other things they could have been doing. Somehow they realized that they were in a position to take their friend afflicted with palsy to someone who could help him. They also knew the “window” of opportunity was limited, so they put aside their own needs to meet those of their friend. They were determined to get the job done. “And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press…” (Mark 2:4), they found another way to get into the house: “…they uncovered the roof where he was…” They then let the man down through the roof on his bed. They were men on a mission. Their work and time were not in vain. Mark 2:11 says, “I [Jesus] say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.” Mission accomplished....

Daily Nugget: The Scriptures have much to say about baptism. In Mark 1, one can glean some important facts about this step of obedience. Some of what is seen in this chapter should dispel what many think or practice in baptism. In Mark 1:9, one reads that even Jesus was baptized. This should prick the hearts of those that are saved and never humbled themselves to be scripturally baptized. If Jesus was baptized, certainly those that are saved should also. The fact that Jesus was baptized should show baptism does not “wash away sin” as some believe. Jesus had no sin to wash away. Baptism is simply a biblical commandment that should be obeyed. When Jesus was baptized, God immediately spoke to Him and expressed that He was pleased with what His Son had done (Mark 1:11). When we follow Christ’s example by being scripturally baptized, the Father is also pleased with one of our first steps of obedience. Unfortunately, too many do not obey God in this area and never grow spiritually b...

Daily Nugget: Jesus was not just a man. He is the only Son of God (John 3:16). His fulfillment of hundreds of prophecies proves it. His life and his supernatural miracles affirm it. Even the supernatural occurrences after His death verify it. At least eleven of them are mentioned in Matthew. Many of them are found in Matthew 27 and 28. When Jesus died: The veil in the temple was ripped in half (Mat. 27:51). Graves of saints were opened (Mat. 27:52). Many dead saints awoke and walked the earth (Mat. 27:52). Two earthquakes occurred (Mat. 27:54, 28:2). An angel came to earth and rolled the stone away from Christ’s tomb (Mat. 28:2). The keepers of the tomb “became as dead men” (Mat. 28:4). Jesus arose from the dead! He is alive (Mat. 28:6)! Jesus appeared and spoke to many (Mat. 28:9, 18). All these miracles trumpeted the end of the long-awaited Messiah’s first ministry on this earth; but, stay tuned! All the supernatural events are not over. I have read the Book (Revela...