We Are Victorious Already!

        In a world filled with depressing news and negativity all around us, there is still hope and victory. We as people naturally look at our circumstances to dictate our moods and lives. This is unhealthy but ever so true. I have the same problem looking at my circumstances and letting them dictate who I am and what I do! Sports teams and fan bases of those teams do the same thing. They look at their teams and the circumstances which causes them to think that they losers and will never win anything. When in fact the next season, they turn things around and make the playoffs or win a championship. They had the ability to be victorious, but never used it. What they missed was trusting what was already in grained into from when they first started playing their respective sports. We as Christians can be the same way. Some of us Christians have been a Christian longer than I have been alive but just can't seem to find the victory over something in their life, and they lose sight of the only way for victory.

        In Judges 6:1-14, God comes to a scared and frightful Gideon of whom he proclaims to be a mighty man of valor. As the circumstantial people that we are, we would say yea right, a mighty man of valor? God said this for a reason because he knew that if Gideon trusted him then Gideon would be victorious. We as Christians have all the tools in Christ to be victorious. Sometimes we forget or lose sight of the fact that we have a great God that can handle anything and everything. Gideon had every reason to be scared and to hide, but God looked at him and saw victory  through the faith that was placed in Him. Gideon did exactly what all of us would do in a time of slavery and captivity, but God reminded Gideon that He is bigger than circumstances, trials, slavery in Gideon's case and everything else. Once Gideon placed his trust in God, there was no looking back for him. We saw God move in his life and remove the stumbling blocks of baal out of his family's life, and then after that lead an army to defeat the Midianites all through God. This wouldn't have happened if Gideon had never stepped out on faith and believed that God could deliver him and the rest of Israel from the Midianites. Just remember that God is bigger than circumstances and provides victory through the faith that you place in Him!

Youth Pastor Scott Hopkins
Crossroads Baptist Church

Perilous Times

We leave in a time that involves a lot of controversy and persecution for Christians. I am talking about Christians that stand up for what is right when tested. I know many that have just laid down and let others and their beliefs dictate what they do and how they go about in their lives. In II Timothy we find that Paul is writing to Timothy about this very thing. In verse 1 Paul says that in the last days perilous times shall come. Paul goes on to explain all of these things that will happen and we know that much of this is what we see today. God says to Timothy that the only thing that will help him is to continue in the Word because in verse 17 it says that he will be fully and completely equipped to do the works of Christ. You can see now in our day the persecutions that are going on in our everyday lives. Paul says that the only way we can endure the persecutions and trials and wickedness of the world is to continue steadfastly in the Word. Let us be aware of the day and time we live in so that we can combat what the world may throw at us. Crossroads Baptist Church Youth Pastor Scott Hopkins

Where Your Treasure Is Lies Your Priority

Have you ever begun to realize where your priorities truly lie? We say that God is our number one priority, but our lives say otherwise! Sometimes I feel as if we have missed the big picture that Jesus is trying to convey here in Matthew 6:19-21. Jesus is telling us that the things here on earth are corruptible, do not worry about them. In fact child of mine, make it your priority to invest in Heavenly things. Easier said than done. If you think bout it. We are a culture that needs everything now, like 5 minutes ago, and if we can't see our fruits of our labor, time, you name it, we forget about the importance of it. So if we are that bad as humans, imagine working for something your life that will be rewarded to you after death! That is hard because our culture has trained us to want now. The most incredible thing though is that God said that the things of Him will never be corruptible, they will last forever. The things that we work for the most here on earth will not last forever, so now with that thought why bother. Any good investor will tell you to invest in something that will grow steadily through the years without risk. See the things of God are not a risk. They will last forever. The works for God will pay a huge dividend at the end of your life, and you will be left with more than you could ever imagine spiritually. So where does your treasure lie? Scott Hopkins Youth Director at Crossroads Baptist Church

Being A Father

A week ago today, the greatest blessing outside of getting saved and getting married, came into this world. She was born on May 28th at 7:44 PM. She weighed 7 lbs and 7 ounces and was 20 and a half inches long. She is so beautiful and sweet. I cannot help but stare at her a lot because God allowed Brittany, my wife, such an amazing and beautiful girl. She is now most of what I think about. I love her to death and would do anything for her. We have already had our sleep diminish quite a bit, but I know it is worth it to see her grow strong and healthy. I am beginning to realize that as a Father I must sacrifice a couple of things in order to tend to her needs. I don't mind to sacrifice because I know of a need that she cannot get on her own. It is funny because that is how God was with us. He is our father and saw his children in need so he did something about it. He sent his Son to tend to our needs because we cannot satisfy or get that need by our-self. We need God the Father to do it for us for our saving. Being a Father means that we must sacrifice something in order to attend to the needs of our child. Have you let God attend to the need of salvation in your life?

Divide and Conquer

Wednesday
May 7, 2014
Bro. Scott Hopkins

                   Have any of you ever caught yourself watching one of those animal shows where it follows a lion and his daily routine? The narrator is describing how he provides for himself, his tactics in every day and on the hunting ground. The best part is when they can catch a lion watching its prey in the tall bushy grasses. You see the lion in the pouncing position ready to take off and grab its prey, but before he ever runs off, he observes which one is the weakest whether by sickness or youth he watches. When he decides which one he wants, he begins his strike by darting out to that particular one. He chases after it separating it from the others so there is no other help. Once he as accomplished this, it is over for his prey. It seems like this tactic is used all too well against Christians.
                   Satan is dividing Christians every day so that he can devour them. I Peter 5:8 says, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:. Satan is just like a lion. He is observing your weaknesses and when he finds them, he will take advantage of them. Satan will divide you away from your family and your church family. His whole purpose is to divide and conquer his enemy, and we are his enemy (anyone that loves God). The Bible tells us we need to be on the lookout and ever so careful. Satan is preying on you. No one is exempt! Are you taking the necessary precautions? Are you going to be another one that falls victim to his ways and tactics, or are you going to stay strong in your faith so that you can fight off that nasty lion? He is watching you Christian, are you prepared?


Crossroads Baptist Church Youth Pastor Scott Hopkins

What Do We Do Now, Knowing We Have A Living Savior?

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

                  Do you ever wonder what the disciples did after they believed that Christ had risen? Do wonder what they thought after their Master had risen from the dead like He said? Do you think they still thought that NOW Jesus would set up his kingdom? I wondered if that was their thoughts or maybe confusion. We know that in John 21, Jesus found the disciples back to their old life fishing. Jesus tells the disciples to throw the net on the other side and cast out again, and so they did. Then Jesus calls them to the shore and and questions Peter commitment. We can gather from this that they still had reservations about Jesus and his master plan. After this meeting again with the disciples, Peter and the others never question Jesus or waver in their faith of who Jesus is and his plan.

                   We know that in Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus gives the Great Commission, and this is what Jesus wanted his disciples to do, now that they knew and believed that Jesus had risen. With this last command that Jesus gives to his disciples, it still applies to his disciples today. Christian, now that we know what happened and what Jesus' death and conquering of the grave meant, do something with it. Jesus says this is what you do with the good news of my resurrection, GO! Tell the world, and I am with you always. So fellow Christian if you are wondering what to do next, go tell someone about Jesus and his life, death, and resurrection. It will change someone's life. God doesn't want us to be idle and go back to what we used to do, He first wants the good news to change our lives and then show others how it can change their lives. Are you active seeking the lost, that is the question. I challenge you today to do something with what you know!

Crossroads Baptist Church,
Youth Pastor Scott Hopkins

   

It Is Finished

Wednesday
April 16, 2014

           Have you ever started something that seemed so important to you at the time that you could'nt wait to finish it, but through time, troubles, trials and life you gave up on it? We all have done this in some way or another in our lives. Sometimes we think we are wasting our time with it because of all the problems that have arisen during the the time we have taken on it. In the Bible though, Jesus makes sure that everything is finished and completed before he is done with the situation.     

           In John 19 and verse 30 the Bible states that Jesus said, "it is finished." With this saying came a lot of meaning. In John 17:4 the Bibles says, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." This is a reference to exactly why Jesus said it is finished. We know that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. This was his purpose here on earth, and he completed that task there on the cross. Everything said and prophesied about leading up to that moment had been taken care of and accomplished. He bridged the gap between God and man so that man could come boldly in God's presence. Before then a high priest had to atone for the sins of the people, but now all can come and ask for forgiveness from the Father without a high priest. Jesus Christ is our high priest who intercedes for us daily. It is finished is such a powerful saying, and the magnitude of it is immense. I thank God that Jesus finished it and nailed my sins to that old rugged cross and died for me so that I may have direct access to the throne of grace. So I leave you with this question, are you thankful for Jesus finishing what He started?

Youth Minister Scott Hopkins
Crossroads Baptist Church