HE BECAME SIN FOR US

Photographer Ramona Adams 

For he hath made him to be 

sin for us, who knew no sin;

that we might be made the 

righteousness of God in him. 

II Corinthians 5:21 

ALL THINGS NEW

Photo provided by Brian Bohannon  

Therefore if any man be in 

Christ, He is a new creature: 

old things are passed away; 

behold, All things are 

become new.

II Corinthians 5:17

RENEWED

Photographer - Ramona Adams 

For which cause we faint not; but 

though our outward man perish, 

yet the inward man is renewed 

day by day.  For our light 

affliction, which is but for 

a moment, worketh for us 

a far more exceeding and 

eternal weight of glory;

II Corinthians 4:16

THOU HAST GUIDED THEM IN THY STRENGTH

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Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the
people which thou hast redeemed:
thou hast guided them in thy strength
unto thy holy habitation.

Exodus 15:13

THE JOY AND REJOICING OF MY HEART

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...thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing 

of mine heart: for I am called by 

thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Jeremiah 15:16

I THE LORD DO ALL THINGS

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I form the light, and create

darkness: I make peace,
and create evil: I the LORD
do all these things. Drop down
ye heavens, from above, and let

the skies pour down righteousness:

let the earth open, and let them bring
forth salvation, and let righteousness

spring up together; I the LORD
have created it.

Isaiah 45:7-8

FOR TO YOU ENTRUST MY LIFE

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Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness

in the morning; for in thee do I trust:

cause me to know the way wherein

I should walk; for I lift up my soul

unto thee.

Psalm 143:8

BE ACCEPTABLE

Photographer - Kay Rowe 

Let the words of my mouth, and the

meditation of my heart, be acceptable

in thy sight, O LORD, my strength,

and my redeemer.  Send thee help

from the sanctuary, and strengthen

thee out of Zion;  Remember all

thy offerings, and accept thy burnt

sacrifice; Selah.  Grant thee

according to thine own heart,

and fulfil all thy counsel.  We

will rejoice in thy salvation,

and in the name of our God

we will set up our banners:

the LORD fulfil all thy

petitions. Now know I that

the LORD saveth his anointed;

he will hear him from his

holy heaven with the saving

strength of his right hand.
Some trust in chariots, and

some in horses: but we will

remember the name of the

LORD our God.

Psalm 19:14 - 20:7

MURPHY ROAD BAPTIST - HEBREWS 1

Sermon from Lash Banks 

MURPHY ROAD BAPTIST - HEBREWS 1

DWELLING IN THE SECRET PLACE

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He that dwelleth in the secret place of the 

most High shall abide under the 

shadow of the Almighty. I will 

say of the LORD, He is my 

refuge and my fortress: 

my God; in him 

will I trust.

Psalm 91:1

O DEATH WHERE IS THY STING?

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O death, where is thy sting? O grave,

where is thy victory? The sting of death

is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to God, which giveth us

the victory through our Lord Jesus

Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always

abounding in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know that your labour is

not in vain in the Lord.

I Chronicles 15:55-58

LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A PURE HEART

Photo provided by Kay Rowe 

 Let us draw near with a true heart in full 

assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled 

from an evil conscience, and our bodies 

washed with pure water. Let us hold fast 

the profession of our faith without wavering; 

(for he is faithful that promised;)

And let us consider one another to 

provoke unto love and to good works:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves 

together, as the manner of some is; but 

exhorting one another: and so much the more, 

as ye see the day approaching.

 

Hebrews 10: 22:25

HE MAKES MY FEET LIKE HINDS FEET

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As for God, his way is perfect: the word

of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to

all those that trust in him.  For who is God

save the LORD? or who is a rock save

our God?  It is God that girdeth me with

strength, and maketh my way perfect.  He

maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and

setteth me upon my high places.  He

teacheth my hands to war, so that a

bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

Thou hast also given me the shield

of thy salvation: and thy right hand

hath holden me up, and thy gentleness

hath made me great.  Thou hast

enlarged my steps under me, that

my feet did not slip.

Psalm 18:33

WHY I WANTED TO KNOW GOD

A Devotion by Steve Long


Photographer - Ramona Adams

I didn’t always want to know God. In fact, I ran from him for quite some time. All I really understood about him was that he would not tolerate sin. Since I knew I was a sinner, I was doing all I could to avoid him. Like the prodigal son, my ultimate intention was to get away from him if I could.

Then, the Lord God began to make himself known to me, and as I began to understand more about him, I started wanting to know him. Here are several things about this amazing God that caused me to desire to be acquainted with him and why I hope you will too:

1. The Fact that He is Our Creator

Talk about a VIP! There is no one more important than the Lord our God: no King or Queen, star entertainer or athlete, politician, rich person; no one with great beauty or personality could usurp the importance of having a personal relationship with our magnificent Creator. What wisdom is his, what knowledge! “How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out.”

Most adopted children, when grown, will want to know their biological parents because they want to know where they came from and find the answer to: “What makes me tick?” Wouldn’t we also want to know our Creator?

As our Creator, he also wants to help us:

Thus says the LORD who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you:[i]

2. The Fact That He Knows Us Best

We are told in the Psalms:

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.[ii]

Understanding that God knows all about us can be daunting if we’re running from him but if we return to him, he will be the first to meet us on the path home.[iii]

I am amazed in the fact that no one knows us completely as the Lord does, yet no one loves us like he does either.

3. The Fact That He is Good.

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.[iv]

Just how good is God? Nobody has ever found that out yet. But here’s what I do know:

He is kind and gracious to every person in this life no matter if they believe in him or not. “He makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust”[v] and he “is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”[vi] “He is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.[vii]” “He left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”[viii]

I can tell you something about how good God has been to me. I have never gone one single day without at least something to eat. Some may have but that doesn’t make God any less good. Even those who have experienced great tragedies in life such as the death of a loved one – maybe a child – have still experienced some measure of God’s goodness every day of their lives. I had some days when I questioned whether God was there or if he really cared yet I know that he is and does.

4. I Wanted to Know His Forgiveness

I knew I had sinned and knew God was offended. I knew that I didn’t want to remain on his side of disfavor. I learned that he had paved a way for me to be reconciled to him and justified (as if I’d never sinned) because of Christ’s death in our behalf.

5. The Fact that He Promised us an Eternal Home of Perfect Blessing.

There is no doubt that we live in an imperfect world – a world corrupted by sin. Murder, hatefulness, pride, oppression, evil, pain and death abound all around us. But this is not the end for those who know God. In fact, God’s word tells us that he causes all things to work together for the good of those who know God – to those who are the called according to his purpose.[ix]

He was good enough to send his Son to die on the cross for sinners who had no other hope of forgiveness.

If there is a God, wouldn’t you want to know him? Don’t shut him out of your life with unanswered questions. We will always have those. We can know him by faith in the work of atonement Jesus Christ performed in our behalf on the cross of Calvary.

[i] Isaiah 44.2
[ii] Psalm 139.1-4
[iii] Luke 15.20
[iv] Psalm 106.1
[v] Matthew 5.45
[vi] Luke 6.35
[vii] Psalm 145.9
[viii] Acts 14.17
[ix] Romans 8.28

JUSTIFIED BY HIS GRACE

Photo provided by Jan Davis

For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, 

disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and 

pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, 

and hating one another.  But after that the 

kindness and love of God our Saviour toward 

man appeared,  Not by works of righteousness 

which we have done, but according to his mercy 

he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and 

renewing of the Holy Ghost;  Which he shed on 

us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

That being justified by his grace, we should be 

made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is a faithful saying, and these things I will 

that thou affirm constantly, that they which have 

believed in God might be careful to maintain 

good works. These things are good and profitable 

unto men.

Titus 3:3-8

THY THRONE IS FOREVER

Photo provided by Julian Nunez
Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever:
a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre
of thy kingdom.

Hebrews 1:8

THEY SHALL COME TO ME

Photo provided by Julian Nunez

Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life:

he that cometh to me shall never hunger;

and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
But I said unto you, That ye also have seen

me, and believe not.  All that the Father

giveth me shall come to me; and him that

cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

John 5:35-37

I WILL DO A NEW THING

Photographer - Ramona Adams 

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall 

spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will 

even make a way in the wilderness, and 

rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:19 

FROM DEATH TO LIFE

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Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth

my word, and believeth on him that sent

me, hath everlasting life, and shall not

come into condemnation; but is passed

from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say

unto you, The hour is coming, and now is,

when the dead shall hear the voice of

the Son of God: and they that hear shall

live.   For as the Father hath life in himself;

so hath he given to the Son to have life in

himself;  And hath given him authority to

execute judgment also, because he is the Son

of man.  Marvel not at this: for the hour is

coming, in the which all that are in the graves

shall hear his voice,  And shall come forth;

they that have done good, unto the resurrection

of life; and they that have done evil, unto the

resurrection of damnation.

John 5:24-29

EARTH WILL WORSHIP THE LORD

 

Photo provided by Bud Guffey

Make a joyful noise unto God,
all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of
his name: make his praise glorious.
Say unto God, How terrible art thou in
thy works! through the greatness of thy
power shall thine enemies submit
themselves unto thee. All the earth shall
worship thee, and shall sing unto thee;
they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
Come and see the works of God:
he is terrible in his doing toward
the children of men. He turned the sea
into dry land: they went through the flood
on foot: there did we rejoice in him.
He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes
behold the nations: let not the rebellious
exalt themselves. Selah. O bless our God,
ye people, and make the voice of his
praise to be heard: Which holdeth our
soul in life, and suffereth not our
feet to be moved. For thou, O God, hast
proved us: thou hast tried us, as
silver is tried. Thou broughtest us into the
net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins.
Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads;
we went through fire and through water:
but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy
place. I will go into thy house with burnt
offerings: I will pay thee my vows,
Which my lips have uttered, and my
mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble.
I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of
fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer
bullocks with goats. Selah. Come and hear,
all ye that fear God, and I will declare
what he hath done for my soul.
I cried unto him with my mouth,
and he was extolled with my tongue.
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord
will not hear me: But verily God hath
heard me; he hath attended to the voice
of my prayer. Blessed be God, which
hath not turned away my prayer,
nor his mercy from me.
Psalm 66

BEAUTY OF OUR GREAT CREATOR

Behold the beauty from our great creator
A view only He could design

Reflections casting clouds on the water
In awe we stand and pine.

His love beyond description
And grace, unmerited and free

Redemption offered freely
To all those who will believe
Written by Sherry Long

For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that

whosoever believeth in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

THY RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LIKE THE GREAT MOUNTAINS

Photo provided by Julian Nunez 

Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens;

and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.

Thy righteousness is like the great mountains;

thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD,

thou preservest man and beast.

How excellent is thy lovingkindness,

O God! therefore the children of men

put their trust under the shadow

of thy wings. They shall be abundantly

satisfied with the fatness of thy house;

and thou shalt make them drink of the

river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the

fountain of life: in thy light shall we see

light.   O continue thy lovingkindness unto

them that know thee; and thy righteousness to

the upright in heart.

Psalm 36:5-9

HE IS ABLE TO DO ABOVE ALL WE ASK OR THINK

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Now unto him that is able to do exceeding

abundantly above all that we ask or

think, according to the power that

worketh in us,

Ephesians 3:20 

THAT THE GENERATIONS MIGHT SET THEIR HOPE IN GOD

Photo provided by Marilyn Gage Crenshaw 

That the generation to come might know them,

even the children which should be born; who

should arise and declare them to their children:
That they might set their hope in God, and not

forget the works of God, but keep his

commandments:  And might not be as their

fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation;

a generation that set not their heart aright,

and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Psalm 78: 6-8

HIS ETERNAL POWER AND GODHEAD ARE CLEARLY SEEN

Photo provided by Ramona Adams 

For the invisible things of him from the creation 

of the world are clearly seen, being understood

by the things that are made, even his eternal power

and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Romans 1:20 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his

only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth

in him should not perish, but have

everlasting life.

John 3:16

THE THORN AND THE ROSE

Photo provided by Ramona Adams 

Among the thorns there rests a rose

Embracing the radiant beauty we love 

Woven in loveliness lies sorrow and grief 

The thorn, it pierces, the heart it bleeds 

The thorns a woman truly comprehends 

Much like the rose she holds in her hand 

Others may view and never fully see 

The pain inside, the sorrow and grief 

Woven together, the thorns and the rose 

Our lives a masterpiece the world to behold 

The crown, the cross, His love and His blood 

Entangled together show us His great love.

Written by Sherry Long

Therefore being justified by faith, we have 

peace with God through our Lord Jesus 

Christ:  By whom also we have access by 

faith into this grace wherein we stand, 

and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations 

also: knowing that tribulation worketh 

patience;  And patience, experience; and 

experience, hope:  And hope maketh not 

ashamed; because the love of God is shed 

abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost 

which is given unto us.  For when we 

were yet without strength, in due 

time Christ died for the ungodly. For 

scarcely for a righteous man will one

die: yet peradventure for a good man 

some would even dare to die. But God 

commendeth his love toward us, in that, 

while we were yet sinners, Christ died 

for us.

Romans 5:1-8

DRAWING FROM WELLS OF SALVATION

Ramona Adams 

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust,

and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH

is my strength and my song; he also is

become my salvation. Therefore with

joy shall ye draw water out of the wells

of salvation.  And in that day shall ye say,

Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare

his doings among the people, make mention

that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD;

for he hath done excellent things: this is

known in all the earth.  Cry out and shout, thou

inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of

Israel in the midst of thee.

Isaiah 12:2-6

WORKING IN YOU

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 Now the God of peace, that brought again from

the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of

the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting

covenant,  Make you perfect in every good work

to do his will, working in you that which is

wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ;

to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:21