For the applause of heaven

“Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.” Luke 6:26

Authentic teachers and preachers of the Bible will have some who disagree with, even dismiss their proclamations of truth. If a spokesperson for the Lord is not criticized by some, there is a need to worry that they are watering down God’s word. Churches are not created to make everyone feel good, but to lead them to faith in Christ and holy living which when done write will create levels of discomfort as we realize that we have areas that are still short of God's best for us.

Furthermore, it is important how the messenger delivers the message, not with a holier than thou disposition, but in a spirit of compassion and humble boldness which I like to call the ministry of transparency. Followers of Jesus are not out to intentionally offend and attack those who embrace untruth or a worldly way of living. Instead, we are to speak the truth in love and trust God with how people will respond. Do not be shy about your convictions, but do so with godly grace and love.

Has a vocal minority unfairly criticized your stand on marriage? Do some of your family members think you are strange because of the way you raise your children in Christ? Have some labeled you at work as a narrow minded Christian? If so, do not be ashamed that some do not speak well of you, sometimes we are best known by our enemies.  As the job of a hater is to hate.

Enemies of the cross are enemies of those who daily bear their cross for Christ’s sake. But we engage the enemy in prayer and through spiritual warfare. The war is not won in the headline of a newspaper or in a debate on national television, the war is won as followers of Jesus flood heaven with faithful petitions, supplications, intercession, and engage people with loving truth that comes from the word of God. The goal is not to win an arguement, but to live a life worthy of the gospel.  “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18).

Have you compromised the Lord’s standards because of pressure from someone you want to please? If so, dismiss the praise and applause of people and seek accolades from the Lord. It is easy to stand on principle when everyone is happy, but the true test of your convictions in Christ come when people are not happy with your righteous acts.

Do not go looking for trouble, but when it arrives cause it will, look it firmly in the face by faith and speak the truth. Some will sneer, some will seethe in anger, some will slander, but Jesus will smile. Followers of Jesus who are different make the most difference. An attractive life full of Christ’s character is counter-cultural, but points people to Him.

In the DMV area feel free to come and join us for worship and word at First Baptist Chesterbrook 1740 Kirby Rd. McLean Va. at 9:45 each Sunday, and Wednesdays at 7pm for Bible study.
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Rev. Todd A. Brown, Pastor
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Worship with us Sundays at 9:45am
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"

Hang in there

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Are you struggling to stay in the process? It may be the engagement process,he or she cannot make up their mind on a date, time and location for the wedding. Perhaps you feel trapped in the process of a job search,a promising door opens and then just as quickly closes. The process at work is a challenge, because the project never seems to be completed on time and not up to your standards.
Or, for years you have prayed for the salvation of a loved one and they seem further away from the Lord than when you first started petitioning for their soul.  It’s in the process that God purifies our heart and gets our attention to go deeper with Him. The process may not seem perfect, but it is necessary to draw us near to Jesus in utter dependence.

We all are a work in process that requires a prayerful process. It’s through a prayerful process that relationships are strengthened, lessons are learned and patience is produced. We may not like the process, but later on we will appreciate the wisdom, spiritual maturity, and power we gained from God. Indeed, treat process as a friend, not a foe, see it as Jesus molding your mind and heart into His image and likeness.   “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it”(Hebrews 12:11).

 

Be careful not to bypass the process because you may miss God’s best. The flesh faints along the way of His will, but the spirit is energized by faithfulness to Christ’s course. Success comes as you see the destination with eyes of faith and stay focused in prayer. Your patient endurance is momentary and  makes a difference in those who watch you.

Come join us for word and worship at 1740 Kirby Rd. McLean Va. each wednesday at 7pm and sundays at 9:45am.

The Lord will provide

“But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17

The Lord provides. He provides because this is His heart’s desire. By His very nature He is a provider. He cannot, not provide. It gives Him great pleasure to provide. Just as an earthly father delights in providing for his children so does your heavenly Father. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him” (Luke 11:13).

When you fear, He provides peace. When you feel lonely, He provides companionship. When you suffer loss, He provides comfort. When you become proud, He provides humility. When you lack the necessities of life, He provides your needs. When you struggle with confidence, He gives you little victories to gain back much needed confidence. Your confidence grows out of your trust in Him. He gives you strength.
God’s provision may come in a manner that you are not expecting. It may be an unsolicited check in the mail. It could be the compassionate prayer of a complete stranger. It may be a material provision that comes out of left field, because someone at church felt led by the Lord to provide for your need. They are blessed. You are blessed.
God gets the glory, so do not underestimate the creativity of God. Do not lock His provision capability into a conventional box. He may have bigger and better plans. Do not limit God with false humility or lack of faith. He loves being your provider. Do not forget Him. The grace He provided yesterday will not suffice for the grace He provides today.

You can trust that He has just the right life mate for you. Do not settle for someone other than God’s very best. He may very well do much better than your current relationship. He is in the relational business. He knows exactly the husband or wife for you. Be patient. Believe the Lord for someone who will love Him more than he or she loves you.

Many times prayer is His avenue of provision. Prayer facilitates His powerful promises. You prayed for it and now He has provided, but be careful what you pray for He may answer. Sometimes He answers swiftly and other times His answer is delayed. Do not compromise your convictions or give up. A saint who experienced God’s provision on a regular basis said, “God’s work, done God’s way, will not lack God’s provision”.

 

Due to the severe hear in the DMV we have postponed our food, fun, fellowship, and inspiration till a later day.  Feel free to join us Sunday at 9:45 for our time of worship and word as we have Rev. Smith as our guest preacher.

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Rev. Todd A. Brown, Pastor
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Worship with us Sundays at 9:45am
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"

In all thy getting get training

They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. Daniel 1:5

Thorough training precedes effective service. Even the most gifted need their skills developed under the watchful eye of a wise mentor. A novice to a new field of study or work needs time to gain understanding, acquire wisdom, grow accustomed to the culture and increase in physical, emotional and spiritual maturity. Wise are those who take the time to prepare, before rushing off unequipped to serve.

Daniel and his friends made sure not to compromise their conviction in God, as they trained under a hostile authority. The Lord also continued His hand of favor on their faith. He worked through a sympathetic supervisor to carry out His purposes. Perhaps you face a college professor who dismisses your beliefs in Jesus, or you have a boss who blames God for a tragic event he experienced. Regardless, use your training time to learn and grow into a skilled leader for Christ.

Your training may seem laborious and long, but in the Lord’s big picture it is a small dot on His eternal thread. Stay mentally engaged where you are and do not become distracted by overly anticipating the future. Maybe you engage a mentor outside of your formal training, so you have a trusted advisor to help you process what you are feeling and learning. A seasoned sage can help you clarify your calling, coach you in your commitment to Christ and your wobbly convictions.

Above all, stay in the training process, so you become a better ambassador for the Lord. If you give up, you are giving up on God. He is faithful. He will see you through. If you stay true to the process, you will use a similar process the rest of your life to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. The Lord is using this defining season to place His faithful fingerprints on your life. He is preparing you for His purposes.

 

Those in the DMV area come join us this Saturday July 20, 2013, at 12pm for our food, fun, fellowship, and inspiration cookout at First Baptist Chesterbrook.  We are located at 1740 Kirby Rd. McLean Va.  hope to see you there.

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Rev. Todd A. Brown, Pastor
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Worship with us Sundays at 9:45am
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"

Cross Carrying

Then he [Jesus] said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. Luke 9:23

Consumer Christianity is about me: what I receive from my experience with God, what I gain in the worship service, what I learn from the Pastor’s sermon, how I will be blessed because I attended church. Consumer Christianity is a receive, not a give mentality. If I am not intentional, I can drift into a totally selfish scenario regarding my expectations in my spiritual life. I place my needs above the needs of everyone else and I leverage my relationship with the Lord for myself.

However, Jesus describes His followers as cross carriers, not consumers. He said the role of His disciple is death to self and life for Him. Christ meets the needs of cross bearers. For example, in the process of pointing others to Jesus our need for significance is met. We worship Him in the glory of His grandeur and experience peace. Cross carrying Christianity means what we learn in Bible study, the Holy Spirit applies to our hearts. His truth transforms us into His likeness.

Our churches need to guard against creating a consumer Christianity culture. Relationship with Christ is a covenant. Salvation is free, but discipleship is costly. Our trust in Jesus requires our letting go of our trust in anything else. Our confession and contrition over sin longs to grow in the grace and holiness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our repentance turns from old selfish thinking and replaces it with new selfless thinking. Cross carrying churches create cross carrying Christians.

Furthermore, our ability to follow Christ is sustained by grace through faith. Grace governs our heart in humility. Faith feeds our mind in hope. We follow hard after Jesus when we have been with Jesus. It is in our intimate moments of prayer that the Holy Spirit gives us the spiritual energy to engage the world with truth and grace. Therefore, be a cross carrying Christian who challenges consumer Christians to engage in discipleship. Self denial frees us to follow Jesus.

 

Come join us this Saturday July 20, at 12 noon at First Baptist Chesterbrook for food, fun, fellowship, and inspiration at our church cookout.  For those in the DMV we are located at 1740 Kirby Rd. McLean Va.  Look forward to seeing you there as we have a great time in the Lord.

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Rev. Todd A. Brown, Pastor
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Worship with us Sundays at 9:45am
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"

Power in humility

Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3:7-9

It brings a leader to his knees when he recognizes his calling, purpose, authority, and position were given to him by God. Yes, power in the hands of a humble heart has the potential for extreme good. The possibilities for spiritual revival, medical aid, political integrity, nutritional support, durable homes, orphan care, disability help and widow ministry are endless when the most powerful leverage their power for the powerless. Goodness governs for the good of the whole.

Like Solomon, one must ask am I transparent in my need for God’s wisdom? Do I see myself as a “little child” dependent on my Lord for direction in all things? Power is not a pedestal to stand on, a partition to hide behind or a prod to drive people. Humble power is an opportunity to serve those at their point of need, so they can be everything God has called them to be. Thus, we seek the Lord for a discerning heart that can help us and friends distinguish between right and wrong.

How does our Lord want us to use our position of influence for the good of the whole? How do we express to the Lord our need for wisdom and discernment? Indeed, our humility is a magnet for respect. Those you influence admire your integrity and want to emulate your values into their everyday life. Stay on your knees and they will follow you with their feet.

 

If ingested into your soul, power can be a poison that kills off relations with God and man. However, as you give away power it loses its allure and control. Humility is kryptonite for the deadly powers of power. It softens your heart and sobers your mind. Humble power does not take itself too seriously. Humility gives you confidence in Christ, but pride gives you confidence in yourself. Remember God gives you opportunities to use your humble power for His glory.

 

 

 

Rev. Todd A. Brown, Pastor
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Worship with us Sundays at 9:45am
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"

Loosen up

Be happy young man while you are young, and let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. Follow the ways of your heart. Ecclesiastes 11:9

 

Sometimes we are guilty of taking ourselves too seriously. We get caught up in our little world of what we have to do, where we have to go and who we have to please. Joy jettisons from our heart because we are driven by a “have to” attitude. Unfortunately for our health and for those who love us we become consumed by our agenda, our desires, our worries, our ideas, our work, our hobbies and our needs. Sadly, our unmet expectations become joy killers with no heart.

How do you know if you are taking yourself too seriously? Suddenly others become the object of your fury. They don’t seem to take things seriously enough. You erroneously think, “If they would just do what I want and work as hard as me, both of our worlds would be much better off” You act like the Lord can’t get by without you, however the reverse is true. You can’t get by without Him. So, shed the world from your shoulders. Perhaps on your next vacation you totally disconnect from technology. No phone, email. Try it. Lighten up and let the Lord work for you.  Another simple way of knowing if you take things to seriously is found in how much you just enjoy a good laugh, especially laughing at yourself.  As if you can't laugh at yourself sometimes trust and believe you are in the too serious zone. 


What is the solution for taking ourselves too seriously? Humility. A humble heart is released from the motivation of being the main attraction. When we walk in humility we are content to be behind the scenes and let others receive the attention. Like Jesus and by His Spirit, we empty ourselves of our reputation and expectations and replace them with His. We let go of our work and we let God work. We learn to take ourselves less seriously and the Lord more seriously.

Therefore, enjoy the peace and contentment that accompanies a non acrimonious approach to life. Seek harmony not hostility. Give instead of take. Be yourself. Be still. Know God. Joy comes from being with Jesus. So, draft behind where God is working, instead of striving to get your way. Guard your heart from an overly serious state. Invite Christ’s calmness to relax your countenance and return your smile and laugh.

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Rev. Todd A. Brown, Pastor
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Worship with us Sundays at 10:45am
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"

Are you content?

My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.  But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.”  (Psalm 131:1-3)

Contentment is not concerned with matters out of its control. Anytime you try to manage circumstances out of your purview, you grow discontented and frustrated. The world of discontentment is a dangerous place to live because it may lead you to make a unwise decision. Decisions made under the duress of discontentment are not always the best. Contentment, on the other hand, is patient and prayerful in decision-making. Most things do not have to be decided right away. You can wait and watch God unfold His will. It may be time to make a bold move, but execute your transition smoothly, not in a jagged fashion. Contentment does not try to change people. That’s God’s job. Contentment accepts the fact that some people are best left to themselves. God will deal with them in His way and in His timing.
   
Contented people do not have to be "in the know" about everything around them. Too much information can get you into trouble for you are responsible and held accountable for what you know (ask Adam about that). It may be that you are not ready for that level of authority. Be content and trust God with those issues that exceed your capacity to understand or implement. There will come a day when you are prepared for that role of confidant, but for now, be content with where you are. Do the best in your current position and let opportunities come your way. The world of contentment is a great place to live in peace and quiet.
   
Contentment is found by placing your hope and trust in God. Hope in the Lord can never be taken from you. All hell can break loose, but He is there. Hope in God is a perk for today. If you can trust Him with your soul for eternity, you can trust Him during this incredibly brief time on earth. Hope feeds contentment the way an appetizing meal feeds a hungry body. When you lose hope you grow discontented. Hope can be found in Jesus Christ, so don’t make it hard. He is not illusive or hiding; He is available for you. Contentment’s hope is in God.

If you place your hope in anything other than God, you set yourself up for major disappointment. Everything else in life is capable of letting you down, but not our Lord. He is there for you, and His desire is contentment. He desires contentment because He knows that pure joy and happiness are nurtured and able to grow there. Sad are the discontented; glad are the content. Driven are the discontented; called are the content. Restless are the discontented; peaceful are the content. Addicted are the discontented; satisfied are the content. Pessimistic are the discontented; hopeful are the content. Be content and enjoy the outcome. Contentment’s concerns are few.


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Rev. Todd A. Brown, Pastor
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Worship with us Sundays at 10:45am
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"

Spiritual Reception

“Then Jesus said, ‘He who has ears to hear, let him hear’” (Mark 4:9).

Spiritual receptivity is necessary for the disciple of Christ. Jesus knew that there had to be a willingness to want to know and understand before there could be any comprehension of His teachings. This hunger for God is an innate appetite that only He can satisfy. Even if you do not hear, you can want to hear which is key to hearing in the first place your desire, as God will fulfill that desire. This is the attitude of a growing disciple of Jesus Christ. A willing heart is what the Holy Spirit infuses with insight and revelation.

Spiritual receptivity is born out of our attitude and validated by our actions. Actions are an indicator but not an initiator of openness to the Lord's will. Have you ever grown weary working for the Lord, struggling to have a patient attitude? Yes, we all have from time to time, but it is a patient and grateful attitude that hears Christ communicate the most clearly. Gratitude for His grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness leads to hearing His voice.

His Word lodges alive and eventually bears fruit when the ears of our heart humbly listens to the Lord with an attitude of obedience. Jesus explained the results of a spiritually receptive heart; hearing and understanding His Word, thus finding faith and healing. Indeed, the comprehension of His ways is not limited to a select few. 

Spiritual receptivity means I submit to the Holy Spirit’s prodding to preempt my pride. Instead of reacting to raw data, I wait and process with prayer so I am able to gain God’s perspective and not be rushed by the world’s way of doing things. Spiritual receptivity sees the face of God and hears the heart of heaven.


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Rev. Todd A. Brown, Pastor
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Worship with us Sundays at 10:45am

Keep it 100

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14:6a; “When he lies [the devil], he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44b

Truth flows from the “Truth” (Jesus). Lies flow from the “father” of lies (the devil). So, truth tellers side with the Lord and liars side with Satan. With whom do we align? We are quick to say Jesus, but in everyday life,if not careful,we drift into representing the dark side when tempted to speak untruth and half truths (which is a lie) out of fear, instead of truth out of trust.

Lying is short-term focused. We are afraid we will lose something if we don’t lie. We may lose someone’s respect, but when we are found out to be a liar, it is compounded into humiliation. We may lose money, but when indiscretions are exposed over time, we lose more in compromised creditability. Better to lose a little with honesty than a lot with lies.

The devil is an expert in luring us away from the Lord’s desires by offering a short-term solution,lying, which leads to long-term destructive consequences. Liars are unable to remember their inconsistencies, so when confronted they sheepishly say, “I don’t remember or I can’t recall what I said”. Children who chronically lie seem oblivious;they continue to fib until the pain of not telling the truth causes them to change. Rembember the word of the Lord declares that “If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth” (1 John 1:6).

In paradise the first lie was presented by the serpent as he led Eve to believe she could be like God. Some things never change. Everyday we are tempted to promote ourselves as someone better than our true self. But instead, Spirit-led living looks to exalt Christ and others,  not self, so we share the truth about ourselves in light of God's word that He might get the glory out of our lives. To be honest is to take responsibility for our actions and  not to blame or pass it off on someone else.  Like Adam tried to do in when he said “The woman you put here with me she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate”(Genesis 3:12-13).

Are you honest with yourself about constant exposure to a compromising situation? Are you loose with the truth, or do you speak directly and include all the information? Take responsibility for wrong decisions and going forward seek sound advice from loved ones, and friends who will tell you the truth. Be totally honest with them so they can offer the best Christ centered advice. Begin by coming clean with Christ. He already knows, and He is the best when it comes to cleaning up a mess, so you might as well be totally honesty.

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Rev. Todd A. Brown, Pastor
First Baptist of Chesterbrook
1740 Kirby Rd.  Mclean Va. 22101

Worship with us Sundays at 9:45am
Vision:" Disciples Making a Kingdom Impact"