What the Christian Life is All About

Romans 14:16-19  Let not then your good be evil spoken of:  (17)  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  (18)  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.  (19)  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

After being saved by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, this is what the Christian life is all about and sadly many Christians miss this and their Christianity seems to be a life of drudgery rather than enjoyment.

It is not about keeping up appearances online ensuring no one sees your faults and everyone sees how “great” you’re doing!

It is not about rigidly keeping rules because, “That’s just what we do as Christians”.

It is about righteousness (Godly personal living), which leads to peace, joy in the Holy Ghost, acceptance with God, approval by the right kinds of people (some people will never approve of what you are doing, and that is okay), and the kind of love that seeks to edify (build up and encourage) others rather than seeking your own edification all the time from others!

Being Careful with Your Good Intentions

If you have good intentions, don’t be offensive with them! Let people accept or reject your good intentions based on their own decisions. We have no need to try to control other people, and if you feel this need to do so, the problem is within you, not within others who refuse to be controlled or even be part of your good intentions.

As Christians we should want other Christians to be the best they can be for Christ.

The Importance of Being Self-Aware

We must learn to be self-aware enough to know if we’re offending someone and pull back when we sense that we are.

Paying attention to your body language, tone of voice, etc. and paying attention to their response to these things is highly important. Learn to adjust these things when possible in order to bring peace and edification to your brother or sister.

Sometimes good intentions can have unintended consequences or be taken in a way you did not intend.

While you can’t prevent misunderstandings and offenses from happening all the time (some people are just going to be offended no matter what because of their own issues), you can do your best to be self-aware and prevent them from happening at least some of the time.

As we can see from these scriptures, the Christian life is about enjoying the journey and focusing on edifying others along the way!

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Thank you!

Pastor Fulmer

Scriptural Promise for the Week of April 21 – 27, 2025

God’s Promise to the Willing and Obedient

Isaiah 1:19 reminds us of the profound relationship between willingness, obedience, and the blessings we receive.

This verse ensures that those who adhere to the commands and guidance of the Creator will be rewarded with many blessings.

Well-being is not merely the result of our efforts but is also a gift bestowed upon those who live in harmony with God’s Biblical principles.

The land symbolizes the realm of our existence—our physical, emotional, and spiritual lives.

Eating the good of the land means to partake of the blessings of God, whether it be through material wealth, inner peace, or spiritual fulfillment.

God calls us to cultivate an attitude of willingness and a practice of obedience, assuring us that such a stance will lead to a life filled with the goodness and blessings of God!

Barnabas, the Son of Consolation

Although Barnabas is mentioned numerous times in the scriptures, there is more to his life than we see on the surface. This short article is intended to shine a little more light into who Barnabas, the son of consolation, was.

His original name was Joses, according to Acts 4:36  And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,

The name Joses (Greek ioses) is the Greek equivalent to the Hebrew name Yoseph (Joseph). In America, we’d call him “Joe”.

Barnabas was a Levite living in the country of Cyprus. Being a Levite indicates he likely grew up seeing his father carry out some ministerial duties at the local synagogue. All Jewish boys were familiar with the word of God, but especially one who grew up as a Levite.

Barnabas was the uncle of John Mark according to Colossians 4:10  Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister’s son to Barnabas…

This sister of Barnabas is named Mary, and it was in her house where the disciples were praying when the apostle Peter was liberated from jail by an angel.

Acts 12:11-12  And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.  (12)  And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

The name Barnabas is broken down into two parts; Bar (Aramaic for the son of) and Nabas (prophecy; comfort). While he is called the son of consolation, his name could also be translated as the son of prophecy.

Although these were Jews, Aramaic is used along with Greek in translating the New Testament.

The equivalent Hebrew words to the Aramaic Bar nabas (the son of prophecy or the son of comfort), are Ben nabiy (nabee).  These words are used in such scriptures as 2nd Kings 2:3  And the sons of the prophets (ben nabiy) that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha…

Joses likely received the surname, Barnabas, the son of consolation (comfort and encouragement), because he liked to encourage others, which takes a certain amount of leadership and personal sacrifice because it involves more giving than taking.

We know Barnabas showed forth this kind of leadership because he was the first to reach out to Saul, who had been persecuting the churches before finally getting saved.

Acts 9:26-27  And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.  (27)  But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Just because his surname means the son of consolation, does not necessarily mean Barnabas did not have a strong personality.

I’m sure that before bringing Saul to the other apostles, Barnabas had a very frank and detailed discussion with Saul to ensure that he was telling the truth about his conversion and that Saul had genuinely been saved.

This Saul would later be known as Paul, who would go on to start several Christian churches, lead many lost people to Christ, and write 14 of the 27 books in the New Testament.

Barnabas played a significant role in Paul’s success by giving him a chance when others would not!

Although there is more that could likely be written about Barnabas, we see there is more to his life than what appears on the surface.

This article is meant to shine a little more light into who Barnabas, the son of consolation, was.

This site is dedicated to Encouraging Men and Women to Walk in a Personal Relationship with God.

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Thank you!

Pastor Fulmer

Scriptural Promise for the Week of April 13 – 19, 2025

God’s Promise of Provision

God assures us that if we seek the most important things first, which are the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness, then we can be assured that we will be supplied with all the things we have need of to be successful in this life!

In the previous verses He talks about food, clothing, contentment, and the peace that truly makes us free from worry.

If you are loaded down with worry, then the Lord Jesus Himself invites you to completely abandon your worries by seeking the things that pertain to God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

You will find that all these things will simply come to your life when you depend more upon God than upon your present circumstance!

Scriptural Promise for the Week of April 6 – 12, 2025

We have in this scripture the truth that, though there are certain things only known to God, there is enough revealed to us in His word to help us live for Him according to His will.

This knowledge alone comforts those who have placed their complete trust in God because they have come to the realization that trusting in the will of God is best!

The promise here is that when we put our faith fully in the ability and will of God, whether we fully understand all things or not, we have enough information available to us that we may keep His word and still please God!

Scriptural Promise for the Week of March 30 – April 5, 2025

God’s Promise to Overcomers

This verse contains a profound message and promise of eternal reward! It is an exhortation to listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that He may speak to you.

This promise of partaking of the tree of life is directed towards those who overcome trials, temptations, and adversities.

It calls believers to a higher level of spiritual perseverance while offering the ultimate reward of eternal life in God’s presence!

Let this promise inspire and motivate you to remain steadfast in your faith and to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in your daily life!

Scriptural Promise for March 23 – 29, 2025

God’s Promise of Eternal Transformation

1st John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

This passage emphasizes our current status as children of God and the promise of future transformation when Christ returns.

While we are assured of our identity, the specifics of our future transformation remain unknown. This lack of clarity does not diminish the promise; instead, it encourages faith and trust in God’s plan.

This is a call to positively represent Christ in this life while eagerly awaiting our future transformation!

Scriptural Promise for the Week of March 16 – 22, 2025

God’s Promise to Bring You Out of Darkness with a Purpose

This promise reminds us that, as God’s people, we have been called out of an old lifestyle and into a new one. It’s a lifestyle that is different yet far more blessed than the life we once lived before we knew God.

Remember, God’s mercy is shown in your life by the fact that, through faith in Christ, you have been moved out of darkness into His marvelous light!

Scriptural Promise for the Week of March 9 – 15, 2025

God’s Promise of Reward for Spiritual Endurance

This verse reiterates God’s promise of rewards for steadfast faith and perseverance through life’s trials.

Temptation is a universal experience, a test of faith and virtue that every individual encounters. In James 1:12, to endure temptation means to withstand challenges, resist the allure of sin, and maintain integrity. This endurance is not merely about surviving trials, but it is about emerging stronger because of them!

The promise of the crown of life is the ultimate prize and is to all those who stay faithful to God, trusting that His plan is working together for our good!

Scriptural Promise for the Week of March 2 – 8, 2025

God’s Promise to Remember Our Labor of Love

The word of God reminds us that we have a promise from God Himself that He will not forget all that we have done in His name!

In a world where appreciation is fleeting, when we do what we do as a representative of God, we can be assured  that we have a reward from God directly!

This promise should encourage God’s people to continue their labor of love, even if other people do not see it, because there is a God in Heaven who does, and He appreciates it greatly!