Blog Truth

The No-Secret to Conquering Worry

Matt R. — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 03:49:02 +0000

Matthew 6:25-34 are very near and dear to those of us who are tempted to worry. The first statement of Matthew 6:25 is rather shocking, “Don’t worry about your life!” Christ then lists many of the areas were are tempted to worry about everyday.

What I never noticed about this passage is the connection it has to the preceding context in Matthew 6:24. The first phrase of 6:25 binds these two verses together (“For this reason”). The passage on worry is sandwiched between two strong statements about serving God as your top priority (Matthew 6:24, 33).

The “no-secret” to conquering worry is serving God as your chief ambition in life. When you do, God says He will take care of the details along the way.

When those “worrys” pop up your first line of defense is prayer (Philippians 4:6-7).

Keep Jesus Above The Rest

Matt R. — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:59:09 +0000

Luke 9:33-35 And as these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah” — not realizing what he was saying. While he was saying this, a cloud formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”

A Lesson from the Transfiguration
The Father will not let Jesus share common worship or levels of reverence with other humans. The Father’s declaration runs directly against Jehovah’s Witness doctrine of Jesus, “He is just like us, just a little more advanced.” May we see Jesus as fully man while at the same time fully God (Philippians 2:5-8).

Let us not let the greatest human scholars or theologians of our day or the past find the same level of authority as Jesus. The Roman Catholic pope is neither, but many place his ex cathedra declarations on the same level as Bible! The Father’s message is “Listen to Jesus!”

Thoughts On Our Savior’s Incarnation

Matt R. — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 21:29:13 +0000

Anbetung der Hirten (Adoration of the Shepherds) (c. 1500–10), by Italian painter Giorgio da Castelfranco

On Philippians 2:5-9

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Christmas should remind us to live for the best interest of others. In the Person of Christ, God willfully took on the limitations of human nature for the good of all mankind (1 John 2:2). B. B. Warfield encapsulates this thought in the following quote:

“So far is Paul from intimating, therefore, that Our Lord laid aside His Deity in entering upon His life on earth, that he rather asserts that He retained His Deity throughout His life on earth, and in the whole course of His humiliation, up to death itself, was consciously ever exercising self-abnegation, living a life which did not by nature belong to Him, which stood in fact in direct contradiction to the life which was naturally His!” (The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, “The Person of Christ”, Vol. 4; p. 2339.)

What an amazing challenge to us to do the same (Philippians 2:3-4). Every moment of every day choosing to sacrifice my “rights” and desires for the benefit of others. Are you building up and edifying others with your actions and words, or tearing them down (Ephesians 4:29-32). Thank God for another person of the Trinity who lives inside us to enable us to this end (Galatians 5:22-23).

God Knows!

Matt R. — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 10:31:23 +0000

God’s providence is at work in every aspect of our lives. The Book of Exodus is a clear reminder of how God is at work bringing all the details of life together to accomplish His plan.

As Moses under the inspiration of God recounts the details of the nations condition (Exodus 1:1-22) as well as his own illegal birth (Exodus 2:1-10), he carefully highlights the movements of God’s sovereign hand even in the face of man’s sin (Exodus 2:11-15). Through every detail of the seemingly ordinary events of life, God is at work preparing a man to accomplish His plan.

Chapter 2 ends with a summarizing statement concerning Israel’s condition (Exodus 2:23), and His knowledge of their condition (Exodus 2:24). God hears the sighing and crying of His children! Let the pressures of life amplify your cries to God! He hears your “groaning” produced by the pressures of life! He remembers His unconditional obligation to you (“God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”). He sees your financial strain, health issue, difficult decision, and takes notice (literally “knows”) every detail about what you are going through.

Praise God His knowledge propels Him to action in our lives! Israel was not where He wanted them to be (bondage in Egypt). The hardness of Pharaoh, or the complaining of Israel, could not keep Him from accomplishing His eternal plan in their lives, or in yours!

If you are looking for an encouraging Book to read, I heartily recommend Exodus!

When Rats Eat Your Treasure

Matt R. — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:32:22 +0000

Out of the uncertainty in financial markets, especially in Greece, comes a great illustration of the biblical principle of Matthew 6:19-21. The following illustration is taken from a recent news article.

“One senior investment banker is more blunt: “People are scared that the government doesn’t know what it’s doing.” He tells a story about an acquaintance who took out €30,000 (Euro = $42,546), wrapped it in a bag and stashed it in his garage. “The bag had previously had some food inside,” he says. “So it attracted rats, who ate the notes.”"

So much better to lay up our treasures in heaven (Matthew 6:20-21)!

VBS 2011! Gold Rush

Matt R. — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 20:43:28 +0000

We are excited to be having the TBC of CT teens and sponsors coming to help us with our second VBS! Thank you so much to my brother-in-law and sister, Matt and Melanie Harper, for doing the back breaking work of traveling from CT to FL with teens and a game plan to help us put on our VBS! Thanks also to my wife, Jen, for all the organization and work putting together the following flyer. Without their help, this VBS would have been impossible! Thank you!

Charter Service Sunday April 17, 2011!

Matt R. — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:12:17 +0000

I am excited to announce that Truth Baptist Church is formally organizing! By God’s grace we have complied a Constitution and By-laws subservient to the authority of God’s Word. This Sunday those desiring to become members of Truth Baptist Church and have fulfilled the requirements will be given the opportunity to sign the charter of our church. To commemorate the special occasion, we are planning a special schedule:

9:45 – Sunday School: Brian Tuttle

10:30 – Special Speaker: Pastor Jeff Miller (Pastor of Agnew Road Baptist Church in Greenville, SC)

12:00pm – Lunch (All are invited!)

1:00pm – Charter Service: Pastor Matt Rowley

I am so thankful for the faithful people God has brought to our church. Please continue to pray that God will gives us wisdom to reach out into our community and reach the lost for His glory. I am continually reminded of my dependence on God to build “His” church (Matthew 16:18).

Thank you for your prayers and support that have been absolutely vital in starting TBC. If you live in the area, we would love to have you join us!

In Christ,

Matt Rowley

January 2011 Update Letter

Matt R. — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 18:44:44 +0000

We are excited about what the Lord is doing here in Jacksonville! In the last several months, two people have made professions of faith! We are also excited to see new people coming and many growing in their walk with the Lord! Thank you for your prayers and support!

Here is our January 2011 Update Letter.

Matt, Jen, Brianne, and Titus Rowley

Missionary Stephen King Prayer Requests

Matt R. — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:02:48 +0000

We were honored to have Stephen and Vickie King, missionaries to Germany, be the first missionaries to present their work at Truth Baptist Church. Vickie is the daughter of Bob and Susan Clark who are an integral part of our church. Stephen presented the ministry God has called the to in Gotha, Germany during our Sunday School hour this past Sunday, and the challenged us on the authority behind the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

I would like to pass on for your prayers the requests Stephen presented on the last slide of his presentation. Several people requested them.

Prayer Request for the King family, missionaries to Germany:

For Bibelgemeinde Gotha:

For the Lord to provide a place for us to meet as a church.
For good opportunities to share the gospel with others.
For upcoming outreaches to be effective
- Musical Mission Team
- Book table in the open air marketplace
For the church to develop into an indigenous German ministry.

For Impact Camp Ministries:

For the permits to be granted to start renovations.
For the Lord to lift up German leaders that are willing to be more involved in this ministry.
For upcoming camps in 2011.
- Various work camps on the property.
- Spring Music camp
- Summer Teen camps
- Fall Young adults camp

We were pleased to present them with a generous love offering to be an encouragement to their family and send them on their way in a manner worthy of God (3 John 5-8)!

Soli Deo Gloria

Matt R. — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 19:33:16 +0000

Why do you do what you do? Why do you make the decisions you do? What motivates you? Scripture answers these questions with a single focus: “Do all to the glory of God.”

Here are a few verses the Lord has brought to my mind as I have been meditating on this truth:

Romans 1:3-5 “concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 – “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

1 Peter 4:11 – “Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Colossians 1:16 -18 – “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.“

There is no greater purpose in life than to glorify God in every attitude, thought, and action! May God give us grace to that end!