Church of the First Born: Recent Episodes
Church of the First Born
Without proper footwear, you're not ready for what lies ahead.
If you don't have the peace that comes from a right relationship with God, you're not ready for what lies ahead.
Are you connected to / drawing from the right power source? Anything else will leave you dead.
Faith that hasn't been tested can't be trusted and faith that isn't being tested won't grow.
Even when we feel like God can't/doesn't love us, we can have faith that He always has, does, and will.
Faith makes all the difference.
God isn't moved by our circumstances, He's moved by our faith.
Foundations: Tithes and Offering
You'll never be able to afford it until you start doing it.
Foundations: Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Is that really for me? Can I really have that?
There are no exclusions in "all" and "everyone."
When things go down, they're going to go down fast. Are you ready?
In order to be ready, you have to know what you're ready for and be waiting for it.
You'll never be fully ready until you're ready to let go of this world.
In order to know what God can do, you have to know what He's done.
Don't just remember what He's done, bring it to remembrance.
Unity is the key to reaching the world. Unity in our church and our home is important, but both of these depend on our unity with the Holy Spirit.
The tighter our union with Him, the tighter our union at home and in church will be. The tighter our union, the better our reach.
As darkness rises, the tempting, easy thing to do is nothing. The right thing to do is to better align with the Son so that we can better reflect His light.
As Christians, we are all seeking righteousness, but are we seeking the correct righteousness? Are we seeking our righteousness or His righteousness? Are we worried about how others see us or are we concerned with them seeing Jesus? Are we driven by recognition of our deeds or the evidence of Him working through us.
While we have and know the promise that "all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved," the enemy likes to whisper things in our ear that can cause us to question our eternal security.
In order to walk in assurance of salvation and the "peace that passes all understanding" that comes with it, we need to abide in Him. Only when we abide in the "true vine" will our lives produce the fruits that show we have "been born of God."
The time and effort we spending abiding in His presence determines our supply of anointing. Maintaining a supply is better and easier than scrambling for it at the last minute.
No matter what is going on around us and what may be coming, we can face it without fear if we maintain an intimate relationship with God. As long as we are walking with Him, we can be ready for all things. Things the world may throw our way and, most of all, His return.
It's easy to identify with what the world says and what appears in the natural. The harder thing is to identify who God says we are.
We need to have the 'audacity' to lay claim to what God says about and promises to us.
The quicker we surrender and allow ourselves to reach a place of brokenness, the shorter the wrestling match will be.
Sanctification, while it may be intimidating, is crucial. Sanctification is God's process of preparing us for what He's prepared for us. The things prepared for us both now and forever.
Is it possible to be both completely saved while still being saved at the same time?
While justification was complete the moment we accepted Christ as our Savior, sanctification is the process of us walking out our salvation as we remain in the world but not of the world.
Let go and let God.
So many of us bear unnecessary burdens that hold us back and/or trip us up. What we fail to realize is that the things we unnecessarily bear also affect those currently around us and those that come after us.
As we see the day approaching, it is critical to ensure we know and maintain our calling.
We aren't called to perfection, we are called to perseverance.
We aren't called to having all the answers, we are called to faith.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
We have to release what is holding us back and/or weighing us down to become free. We have to dwell in His presence to remain free.
Do you have cheap faith or deep faith?
Cheap faith fails during trials while deep faith perseveres by looking beyond the trial to the good that is promised.
Cheap faith will gas out when things get tough while deep faith can take a licking and keep on ticking.
What a Baby! His presence change the world and it would never be the same.
What a Man! To lay down His life for all mankind.
What a Gift! Eternal life. We just have to receive it all.
God's plan for your life includes your redemption and your mistakes. It is critical to remember that He loves you regardless of your short-comings. Don't let anything or anyone convince you otherwise.
Deal with sin as it arises and be set free. Don't allow it to fester and become a slave to it.
In order to be transformed into His image, we need to abide in His presence. In order to abide in His presence, we need to know that it has nothing to do with what we do but what He's done.
It is a sobering realization that if we don't walk in the things that God has intended for us, the next generation will perish. Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts to this. In order to walk in the things God has for us, we need to put in the work to prepare our vessel.
All of the things that God intends for us require us to be walking in obedience. If disobedience in the garden is the thing that took away everything God had originally intended for mankind, why do we think that anything less than obedience will get them back.
There are many feelings on the spectrum of human emotions. Blessed is not one of them. Blessed is a state of being. You can be blessed no matter what you're through. When you realize and achieve this, your faith will be ignited and the faith that is ignited in you can and will ignite faith in those around you.
It's not about what we do.
It's not about what we know.
It's about what He said.
The Word is the key to overcoming our struggles, walking in our true identity, and experiencing all He has for us.
The key to walking an upright life is to know who we are and to remember what's been done for us. Doing so will ensure we know our true identity and that all we do is motivated by love.
The key to the greatest treasure one can imagine is completely useless if the holder does not know what it is for and how to use it. In order for us to use our keys to unlock the promises of God, we need to know what keys we have and how to use them. A knowledge of The Word and of the authority we've been given is necessary.
Keys represent ownership, authority, and the right to access. Keys of the kingdom are no different. We have authority over and the right to access so much more than we realize. We just need to use our keys. In order to properly use keys, we need to first of all know that we have them and then know what they're for.
As we see the day approaching, it is crucial for us to know what we are and aren't called to do. We aren't called to know the day or the hour but we are called to know the season. We aren't called to know the day but we are called to be ready for it.
Death for a saint is not a tragedy, it is a transition. A transition into what God has prepared for those that love Him. A transition into what "no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined."
Don't let a lack of knowledge be your downfall.
A lack of knowledge will lead to destruction. Though knowledge will help us navigate life's challenges, knowledge enough is not alone. We also need wisdom to know how to apply our knowledge.
The Holy Spirit's presence in our lives should be evident to those around us. His presence should emanate from our speech, actions, & and lifestyle in a way that points others to Him. If we have to tell or try and convince people we are Christians, we are doing something wrong.
If we want use our gifts to their fullest, we should be yielded fully to the one who gives them to us. We don't have the ability in the natural to reach the levels that we strive for. In order to reach our full potential as Christians, we have to know where our real potential comes from. We have to walk in The Spirit.
We all want more. More of God, more of Jesus, more of the Holy Spirit; but we can't have it unless we let go of the other things we are holding on to.
Surrender what you're holding on to and you'll get what has been promised.
We are called to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. This may seem like foolishness from a worldly standpoint, but if we allow ourselves to always be conscious of the fact that God is constantly pouring into us; no other response makes sense.
We are all familiar with the joy that accompanies salvation. A joy that seems like it will never fade but then the trials and tribulations of this world start to steal it away. Fortunately, we are able to get back to that joy by reflecting on all God has done for us.
The more we revisit that place, the more we "rejoice," the more we abide there; the more we will be able to go through with joy. The more we will be able to say "this is good."
A full frontal attack from the enemy will likely be seen for what it is. However, a swarm of little "trials" that come our way are more likely to "steal" our focus and cause us to stumble. As we focus on the things going on in our lives, we are no longer able to focus on what really matters and we will find ourselves in turmoil instead of peace.
There is no denying that walking out a life of faith is a struggle. We face things, big and/or small, on a daily basis that are building perseverance, character, and hope. Thankfully we don't have to go through it alone. We are given the grace to pull through every trial we face. In fact, we have access to the Creator and King of everything for anything at any time. We just have to go to Him.
Are you sure about your standards or are you shaky? Standing on the principles of God‘s word is a strong foundation. Living by God‘s principles will give you the discipline needed to prevent making compulsive choices based on your preferences. When we live by God’s standard we are less likely to lower our standards.
This lifestyle will lead to impacting more lives for Christ than you know.
People don't want to hear about God, they want to hear from God. If we aren't hearing from God ourselves, we will not be able to fulfill this mission.
We need to ensure we are familiarizing ourselves with His word and removing any interference that may prevent us from hearing His voice.
Without the resurrection, the Gospel is not 'good news.' Without the resurrection, we have no hope.
We have the 'good news' because there is no other like Jesus and He still lives. We have hope because we have been born again and we will be with Him for eternity.
The challenges, difficulties, and trials we face are meant to distract, discourage, and deter us from doing what God has called us to do. If we allow them to do this, we will be kept from the joy that comes with obedience.
Don't let the challenges and difficulties of walking with the Lord keep you from the joy of walking with the Lord.
Each one of us is carrying the hope of eternity. How we live our lives, how we walk will determine our impact on those around us.
Are we walking in a way that stands out or do we blend in with the world?
Are we walking in a way that makes what we have desirable or do we cause people to turn away?
Are we ready and willing to share it or are we trying to hide the light we are called to shine?
Obedience is the key to the blessings of God.
How can we live a life free of the grip of sin? Obedience
How can we walk in peace when the world around us is falling apart? Obedience
How can we maintain faith when so much appears to be in question? Obedience
Time is a resource that is in limited supply and we can't get any more of so it's wise to prioritize on how we spend it. Our priority should be fulfilling the assignment(s) we have from God. Spending time in and aligning with His word puts us in position to receive and fulfill our assignment(s).
The name of Jesus has power and authority over everything. It is the only sure foundation during times of uncertainty. It is the only thing that offers hope when things appear hopeless.
We need to ensure we are letting Him have power and authority over our lives and remaining anchored to Him.
So much of our time and energy is spent on temporal things. Things that have no eternal value. Things that we can't take with us when we die.
The only thing we can take with us when we die is souls and we should be sure we are using our gift(s) to harvest them.
In the information age, what is and where do you find your truth?
Reality is that there is only one truth. There are no versions of it and if we aren't anchored to it we'll find ourselves adrift and tossed around by every other so-called truth that comes our way.
Only real gold will survive the fire of the crucible and only real faith with survive the fire of trials and testing.
Faith that hasn't been tested can't be trusted. Faith that has been or is being tested is being refined and prepared for what is to come.
As we face things we've never faced before and go through trials we don't see any way out of, we need to remember that God is capable of doing things we've never seen before.
Never let a good crisis go to waste.
Instead of letting a crisis wreck your world, let it be used as God intends, to draw you away from the world and toward Him.
There's a belief that if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. Reality is that there is only one "something" that allows you stand against anything and everything.
Although we know the ultimate end of the story, we still have to live out the rest of it.
During Jesus' earthly ministry, nothing seemed to please Him more than finding faith. How can we expect His second coming to be any different?
He isn't coming back for a church caught up in the ways of the world. He's coming back for a church with faith that causes them to stand out from the world.
Now is not the time to be going with the flow. Now is not the time to be taking the easy road.
Now is the time to be on the narrow, difficult path because it is the only one that leads to life.
Does your life bear the fruit to prove your faith? Whether we are going through a season of producing fruit, or through a time of pruning in preparation for the upcoming season; we should always have evidence of our walk with Christ being produced in our lives.
Have you ever noticed how long a fragrance lingers after the source has left? As Christians, the "fragrance" we carry and leave behind is critical. We are called to carry the fragrance of the Father into the world around us. What fragrance do you carry with you and leave behind in your encounters with those around you?
Is it a sweet fragrance that changes circumstances for the better, draws people in, and leaves a good impression?
Or is it a sour fragrance that one that pushes people away and leaves them hoping they don't encounter it again?
Don't lose heart, the things we go through really do have a purpose. They are to prepare us for what God has prepared for us. The thing we have to remember is that some of the things, the best things, He has prepared for us aren't going to be experienced in this lifetime.
The key to victory is surrender. This statement is not true in many situations, but it is true in the Christian walk. In our own strength, we are powerless against the wiles of the enemy. The sooner we realize that and surrender to the power of Christ, the sooner we will be able to walk in His victory and the freedom that comes with it.
His ways are higher than our ways and many times they are not the ways we would choose for ourselves. We need to remind ourselves that His ways are usually not the easy ways and can lead to exciting exciting new ground. We need to remind ourselves His ways require commitment on our behalf but they will never fail. Most importantly, we need to remind ourselves that it is His ways that put us on and keep us on "The Way."
The things we go through are meant to test our faith. If we maintain a proper relationship with God our faith will be strengthened as it is tested. As our faith is strengthened, we are prepared for the things that lie ahead. This is the necessary and proper process to grow closer and more intimate to God.
When faced with adversity, don't pray to be delivered from it, pray to be delivered through it.
"Is anybody listening?"
We've all asked that question a time or two. It tends to creep in when our faith is waning. When we look at our circumstances, present and future, and forget about the faithfulness we've seen in the past. When we lose sight of the promise and focus on the problem.
When your faith needs a jump start, do a quick review of God's faithfulness throughout His word and throughout your life and remember that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
It's been said that those who stand for nothing will fall for anything. We can take it a bit further and say that those who don't stand on the right thing, will fall because of anything. If we aren't standing surefooted on the The Truth, we won't have the power of its sure foundation and we'll be sure to fall when tested.
We need to know The Truth; we need to stand firm on The Truth; and, when the time comes, we need to stand for The Truth.
The things we go through are intended to strengthen us and draw us closer to God. Unfortunately, our responses to trials many times prevent this from happening.
Our relationship with Him will determine the outcome. When faced with a trial, will you be found among those who complain, doubt, and flee or will you be among those who draw close and depend on Him?
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." The fear of anything else will have substantially less positive results.
Hope is a critical thing to hold on to. Without hope, people fall into despair. What you put you hope in is just as critical as having it. If you put your hope in temporal things, it will come and go as those things can and will. If you put your hope on eternal things, your hope will be anchored and will pull you through any circumstance.
The degree of effort we put toward something is determined by how seriously we take it. There are many things that we don't do as well as we should because we don't take it as seriously as we should. Guarding our hearts may very well be one of them.
What if we took guarding our hearts as seriously as it should be? What if we guarded our hearts as if our lives depended on it?
To "workout your salvation" carries the idea of constant effort. We are only as healthy, both physically and spiritually, as the effort we put into maintaining our health. We need to regularly, if not constantly, ensure we are maintaining a healthy heart. If not we may find ourselves in a place where we are fulfilling religious requirements instead of maintaining a right relationship.
The last place you want to find out you have a physical heart problem is in the back of an ambulance after it has failed you. By then it is probably a little too late to fix things.
The last place you want to find out you have a spiritual heart problem is the day you stand before your Savior and find out your heart was not right. That everything you've done, even for Him, was an outward exercise that did not reflect the condition of your heart.
In both physical and spiritual situations, it is critical to evaluate and keep your heart in check.
Abiding isn't a temporary thing. It doesn't come and go as things in our lives go up and down. To abide, your heart has to be in it. If you heart isn't completely in it, the tendency is to quit as soon as things get tough or don't go your way.
Even the smallest things done today can have a much bigger impact than we can fully comprehend. The things we do today can have an eternal impact. The fact is, we won't be known for the things we do for today but what we do for eternity.
This realization raises the question "is what I'm doing today counting for eternity?"
There is only one Truth and there is only one Gospel.
Christ died on the cross as a payment for the sins of all mankind. He was buried and rose again on the third day. It is faith in this work of Christ that saves us and nothing else.
Any other gospel preached by anyone else is wrong.
A Holy God deserves and needs a holy people. A people led by and empowered by His Holy Spirit. A people that imitates Him and represents His Kingdom.
Everything Jesus did for us was motivated by love and to restore what was lost in the Garden. Everything He did was of the Father's will but of His own volition.
Any mission from God will be met with opposition. The hardest opposition to overcome is many times the battle that takes place in the mind. Victory is much more likely if you're listening to the correct voice, but the loudest voice may not be the right voice.
Each day we are faced with choices. Choices that, though they may not feel like it, can lead to life or death.
Each day we have to choose to prepare and soften our hearts. Each day we have have to choose to commit to perseverance. Each day we have to choose to listen for and hear His voice.
Faith without works is dead, but what works really count? What things that we are doing today will count for eternity? Only things done out of a love of Christ will count. Any other motivation, such as personal gain or glory, will not produce eternal rewards.
Are the things you do today motivated by a love for Christ or something else?
The thing that speaks the loudest into your life will influence your life. If the loudest thing speaking into your life isn't The Truth you won't be led by The Truth. If the loudest thing speaking into your life doesn't offer real peace, you won't have the peace that passes all understanding.
It is important to ensure the loudest thing speaking into your life is the right thing. Anything leaves room for all the wrong things.
The world is in a lawless state, cutting the ties from the standard God has set and setting their own. This gives the appearance that the enemy is advancing his agenda but we know the truth. We know it is actually God's agenda that is advancing. We know that these things are just a signal and that now that they have begun to take place, our redemption is drawing nigh.
What do we do now?
A question we have all asked ourselves and others. A question that has one right answer. The answer to the question what do we do now is the same thing we should have been doing all along, preparing and aligning ourselves, our vessel to hear the Holy Spirit's direction. Only a properly prepared vessel can contain the "new wine" that the Holy Spirit pours out. If we are not properly prepared, we will not receive "new wine" and we will be left feeling lost.
Now is not the time to be picking and choosing what portions of scripture we want to read and cling to. We need to have the whole counsel of The Word in order to have the whole benefit.
To use The Word as an effective shield, it can't have any weak spots. To be able to test and know deceit, we need to know the truth. To have hope and confidence in Jesus' coming, we need to be purifying ourselves with The Word and practicing righteousness.
As the world is shaken and the redemption of the Lord draws nigh, the question may come up "do I make the cut." There is a mentality that may say, "there's no way to know for sure" but this is a lie from the pit of hell. There is a way to know for sure. There is a way to have a hope of things to come instead of uncertainty.
God has set the standard. God has shown how to live a life that pleases Him. To have this certainty and a hope that is just as critical for survival as food, water, and air; we have to be in The Word.
In a time of uncertainty and deception, it is critical to be anchored to "The Truth." It will bring truth and peace in a time of uncertainty. It will be a lamp for our feet and a light for our path when we aren't sure what to do.
The Bible says that whatever can be shaken will be shaken. This shaking is meant to remove temporal things and reveal the things that shall remain. A brief review of this last year shows that whatever can be shaken is being shaken. Not only has this revealed what truly will stand but it also reveals what we are anchored to. If we were and/or are anchored to temporal things, we too will be shaken. We need to ensure we are anchored to the "sure foundation."
Joy has to be anchored to something greater than our circumstances. Otherwise, when challenging times come, our joy will affected. No matter what we face, we can have joy if we anchor it to the fact that we've been given the greatest gift of all time.
We can and should be thankful even and especially in the face of adversity and times of trouble. There is always something to be thankful for. If there is a struggle to find something, reflect on what God has saved you from and thank Him for salvation. If that's all He ever did for us, it would be more than enough to be eternally grateful.
To see the rampant deception and corruption going on today, it's difficult to not be disappointed, even sickened. It's okay to be disappointed. The trouble comes we allow disappointment to grow into discouragement, doubt, and fear.
God's got it.
We aren't called to fully understand or to know the end from the beginning. We are called to be steadfast in our faith. We are called to trust Him. We are called to prepare and maintain our vessels so that when He does pour out His spirit on all people, we are able to receive it.
Being ready, armored up, doesn't mean you're prepared. Putting on the armor is only the first half of preparation. Once we are armored, we have to be alert and stand ready. Being caught off guard will render the best armor worthless.
We are called to victory. We are called to be men and women of valor.
To obtain and walk in the victory we are called to, we have to know our identity and who we are called to be. To become who we are called to be and walk in our identity, we need to identify and remove the things that are stealing our identity and holding us back.
We may be "more than conquerors" but we need to ensure we are entering battle from the right place and are properly prepared. Our victory in battle doesn't come from our own ability, it comes through Him. The battle and the victory belong to the Lord. It is critical that we maintain our relationship with Him and dwell under His authority to obtain victory.
"The best defense is a good offense." This is a statement we have all heard before, and it is a statement that shows the full purpose of the "Armor of God." The armor is not intended to be used to hunker down and simply survive the onslaught of the enemy. It is not intended to allow us to simply "hang in there" until the end. This is a very poor and ineffective battle strategy and it can be argued that we are reaping the consequences of this strategy today.
"Surviving" is not the strategy we are called to. Conquering is our call and is the armor's intended use. If this were not the case, we would not have an offensive weapon. The "Sword of the Spirt," "the Word of God," is our weapon and we need to have it at the ready. We need to be familiar with it. We need to keep it sharp. We need to put it to use to drive back the enemy.
There are few, if any, more important things to protect than our minds. Every word we say, every action we take, everything we do begins with a thought. This makes our mind valuable real estate and leads to battle for it. To deny or ignore it would be our downfall. If we aren't pursuing and maintaining a sound mind and actively putting on our helmet of salvation, we will not be able stand.
A tool or piece of equipment that is not used and cared for properly will not be effective and can even lead to damage and/or injury. In order to use and care for something properly, we must know the intended purpose and the procedure(s) to care for it. These principles apply to our spiritual tools, weapons, and armor as well and the Shield of Faith is no exception.
Our shield, as any other shield, is intended to protect us and must be cared for and maintained by the anointing of the Holy Spirt and the watering of The Word.
Anyone that has been caught in a situation without it realizes the value of proper footwear and/or footing. In fact, until you've been in that situation you likely grossly undervalue it. If it is a critical thing in the physical realm, how much more so is it in the spiritual realm where our battles take place. We need to do what is necessary to ensure we are properly prepared. When we are properly prepared and we know it, we can have peace going into battle.
It's been said, "Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times” (G. Michael Scott). It seems that we are reaping today the effects of a life that was a bit too easy yesterday. Although these are tough times, there is good news. It is the fire of the crucible that forges steel and purifies gold. It is the fire of persecution that forges Christians. As the church is forged into what it was meant to be, we are faced with a decision.
Will the world be different tomorrow because we were here today or will it be the same?
Although we may be facing times like never before, we face an enemy that has been the same from the beginning of time. When we recognize that the enemy's tactics have not and will not change, we can identify them and have victory.
To deny that the things of this world can have a hold on us is to deny our humanity. A big part of the Christian walk is moving our affections from the earthly to the heavenly realm and God will use various methods, including trials, to help accomplish this. He used the desert wilderness to help the Israelites.
It's been said that God got Israel out of Egypt in one night but it took 40 years to get Egypt out of the Israel. Although we may not have to wander the desert for 40 years, if we are clinging too tightly to the things of this world, we will miss out on what God has in store for us.
Does your life bear the fruit of repentance?
Are your behaviors simply a reflection of what you think a Christian looks like or are they the result of the changes that are being made in your heart?
These questions may make you squirm a little but they cannot be ignored. As the world drifts further from the truth, we need to be tethered to it. We need to be taking it in. We need to be allowing it to change us from the inside out. True repentance begins in the heart and is manifested in actions.
To say that our relationship with Christ is the most important relationship in our lives isn't new revelation but do we treat it as such. Do we invest in our relationship with Him to ensure it is healthy? Do we put in the effort necessary to maintain it? Are we aware of and do we address the things that distance us from Him?
Like most, if not all, areas of life, you reap what you sow. In other words, you'll be as close to Christ as the investment you put into the relationship.
Now more than ever is the time to stay strong. Now is the time to run to God not from Him. Now is the time to cling to the truth. In these times of uncertainty, it is the only way to be able to see things for what they really our and overcome the tendency of fear.
By faith, we believe that God is working all things together for good. Some of the "good" that He is working will be seen now. However, there is "good" that God is working that we will not see this side of heaven. As children and heirs, this is part of the inheritance we have in store for us.
When our faith is tested, when we are not able to see the "good" that God is working, when the storms of life seem to be overwhelming; it is the promises and inheritance that are the anchor to hold on to.
What will the history books say about the church today? How will our response to the crises we face today be viewed tomorrow? Will they wonder why we stood by when we could have done more or will they be able to look back on our responses and actions and say "Wow! Look what the Lord did through them!"
Properly responding to times of crisis is critical if we desire to be change agents.
So much of what is going on today can leave us wondering why this is happening or what is the good that can come of this.
The fact is, we are not called to understand everything and we may not always be able to see the "good" that God is working. We must understand that we are not confined to the things we see and experience in the natural where things may appear contrary to the Word. We are called to trust His Word and have faith that He will complete it. We are called to walk contrary to the world and to walk in the Spirit. When we do, He will come through in the time of need. He will not leave us orphans.
Freedom isn't free. As we set aside a day eacy year to memorialize those who have fought for our freedoms, we need to also remember that those same freedoms are still under attack and need to be fought for. As tyranny encroaches freedom, it can be challenging to know when to submit to authority and when to take a stand and say "enough is enough." This is where faith comes in. As we take steps to stand up for our rights, it may feel like we are on our own. It may cause us to wonder if we're doing the right thing. It is after the first steps are taken that God shows up and does His part. God responds to faith.
Biblical answers to questions revolving around faith, life, and the times in which we are living.
There is an idea going around that we are living in times like never before. In some ways that may be true, but when you compare our society with those found in scripture you will see that history repeats itself. The parallels of Bible times and today paint a grim picture and can lead to wondering when things are going to change. When will our prayers be answered? When will God respond to our fasting? What is the good that can come of this?
Thankfully scripture doesn't leave us with a grim picture but also shows how we can turn things around. Although things seem grim, we are on the winning team. Although it may feel like there is no hope, there is hope, there is good news if we walk in obedience.
In times of trouble, we all desire peace. Be encouraged that we are promised a "peace that passes all understanding." This is a peace that is not determined by circumstances. This is a peace that doesn't come naturally. This is a peace that doesn't make sense when you really think about.
To have the "peace that passes all understanding;" we need to detach from our circumstances, get rid of whatever is causing separation from Christ, and draw as close to Him as He is to the Father.
Biblical answers to questions revolving around faith, life, and the times in which we are living.
During these times of what seem to be countless and endless attacks, we must ensure we are drawing strength from the correct source because we cannot depend on the natural to be victorious in the supernatural. We must ensure our strength and help comes from the Lord. If we are not abiding in Him, if we are allowing these attacks to diminish our trust in Him and drive us from Him, we will not be able to draw from Him and we will be overcome with fear, doubt, and worry.
We have to abide in Him and maintain trust in his plans and purposes and that can be challenging in times of difficulty. We have to look for and find His goodness, both now and in previous times of difficulty. Then we will realize that He is, has been, and always will be good and trust in His continued goodness. When we trust in Him, we will have peace.
Biblical answers to questions revolving around faith, life, and the times in which we are living.
We serve a faithful God. Biblical history and previous experiences show that His ways may be higher than ours and not always understood, but they are always good. When times are good, it's easy to trust in His faithfulness. The challenge comes when challenges arise. When times of challenge come, we forget about how faithful He has been and think He has forgotten about us. It is in these times that we have no choice but to trust in His faithfulness even when it goes beyond our physical understanding. This requires us to reflect on what He has done, the faithfulness He has shown us, and come to a place where we trust His purposes, His plans, and His timing for what we are going through.
Biblical answers to questions revolving around faith, life, and the times in which we are living.
Biblical answers to questions revolving around faith, life, and the times in which we are living.
Biblical answers to questions revolving around faith, life, and the times in which we are living.
Biblical answers to questions revolving around faith, life, and the times in which we are living.
This is not the end. We have so much in store for us. The best is yet to come, a truth that we can always claim.
We are, however, being tested. After this test, the true character of the church will be revealed. Will this just be the beginning of the church manifesting God's power or will this be the final push to silence the church for good?
History is filled with important days but only one day can hold the title of the most important day in history. What could be more important than the Resurrection. The Resurrection is the pin that hinges and the conclusion to the best news ever. It was an event that had to happen. An event that proved that Jesus' payment for sin was accepted. An event that showed our debt was paid in full. An event that sealed our place in eternity with the Father. The fact is, without the Resurrection, there is no hope. This is why Resurrection Sunday is and always will be the Greatest Day in History.
While Jesus was here fulfilling His mission, much of the world, including "religious leaders" were not able to pick up on His identity or the signs that were meant to direct them to Him. Because of this, much of the world went on living their lives without change.
If history books are ever written about us, will people be able to say the same thing or will our story look different. Will they say that we missed the things He used to try and get our attention and draw us back to Him? Or will they say we "were a generation that heeded the signs of their time, got their hearts right, and lived like no generation before them?"
Seasons come and seasons go. Seasons like the one we are in now remind us that there is so much in this world that we don't have control over. That realization can be disconcerting. We can take comfort in remembering that God is and always will be on His throne.
Instead of worrying about what we can't control, we should use this time to draw close to Him. At times like this, we are faced with a choice. We can either focus on the things we can't control and let our emotions take over; or we can focus on, press in to, and anchor on the Constant One and be pulled through the challenges we face.
To deny that we are in challenging times would be foolish. The world is currently being shaken to see what will endure. We are founded on the Rock and we WILL endure. No matter how bad things get, there is always hope for those who are founded on and abide in Him.
During this and any challenging time, it is important to exercise our faith. If we don't, our emotions, mainly fear, will take over. It is also important that we don't view this time as a time of retreat or surrender. The church is only as strong as its individual members and we can each use this time to strengthen ourselves and the church.
Once planted, a seed will never die. Though conditions may not be able to support the life that it is to bring forth, the seed will survive until those conditions are right.
Like a seed, the promises of God may tarry but they will never die. It may take months, it may take years, it may take decades; but the promise will endure and once the conditions are right, it will spring forth life. It may take faith to receive the promise and it may take a little more faith to wait for the promise, but the promise will come to pass.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9 NIV). Although we may not always know and understand His ways, we can know and understand His heart. We can know and understand His heart by looking back on what He's done. When you find yourself in a place not understanding why or able to see where, meditate on what has been.
Meditate on the word. Meditate on the promises. Meditate on His faithfulness. Meditate on who He is. Do this and you'll realize He always has been, always is, and always will be with you.
It's safe to say that we all desire to have a closer relationship with Christ and/or attain new levels of faith. However, it's not safe to say that we all desire the warfare that comes with it. If we truly want to see growth and development in our lives we must realize that we will experience increased resistance and challenge. Once we realize that truth, we can take an honest assessment of our lives and ensure that we are taking the necessary steps to prepare accordingly. When we are properly prepared, we are no longer on defense but on offense. We can move from a counter-strike lifestyle to a preemptive strike one.
So much of what is going on and what we go through can cause us to lose faith and let fear take over. Fear causes us to try and take the situation into our own hands while faith allows us to let God take control. As the Christianese saying goes "let go and let God." The fact is until we let go, we aren't letting God. To be clear though, letting go does excuse us to be ignorant of the things going on around us and have a "God's got it" mentality. We are called to know the times and the seasons. We are called to watch and to pray.
Don't look back, God's promises are in front of you.
The enemy seeks to distract us, to discourage us, and to dissuade us so we loose focus and miss out on the promises and begin to doubt our faith, doubt our favor, and doubt our Father.
If we keep our focus on the promises that are on our lives, we'll see them manifest. If we don't, we'll get stuck.
“God’s Not Pau Yet”
We are here for a purpose, His purpose. As we realize that and begin to step into the call He has on our lives to reach the world, we will be met with opposition. Opposition determined to stop us in our tracks. Opposition that we need to be prepared for or we will falter. We can prepare ourselves by ensuring we have sound footing upon The Rock and that we have a firm focus on what lies ahead.
It's easy to get caught up in a mentality of "waiting for the rapture" and forgetting that we are on a mission. A mission that we are called to do. A mission that is still very needed.
As our vision is focused through the lenses of the Word, we shift from focusing on the world around us which leads to fear, despair, and indifference to gazing on the Lord which leads to faith, hope, and love. Faith that His Word is absolute truth and WILL come to pass. Hope of what He has in store for us and that leads to "the things of earth growing strangely dim. Love that roots us in our place in Christ, that is contagious, and will lead to revival.
A new year is an opportunity to reflect and review the past year and cast a fresh vision for the upcoming year. It's also an opportune time to take a realistic measure of how we stack up. A measurement is only as accurate as the tool used to measure. We need to be sure that we are measuring with The Word or we will be deceived as to where we really stand.
In this age of deception, it is critical to be able to identify the truth. At times, the line between truth and deception can be obvious. At other times, the line may not be as clear and requires clearer vision to discern it.
We need to be sure we are doing what we can to improve our vision. If we aren't being proactive and correcting our vision, we won't pick up on the subtle deceit that tries to sneak in and steer us away. What we allow into our lives will either strengthen or hinder our vision and our ability to discern the truth. The only way to have 20/20 vision is to be in the word and to examine everything through It.
May we be a church with 20/20 vision in 2020. May we not only know the truth but also stand for it and let our light shine.
Does Jesus really know what I’m going through? I’m sure we’ve all asked ourselves that question a time or two. A quick review of the events of His life reveal that He knows the enemy’s primary tactic very well. He knows what it is like to have your identity attacked.
We see the king of the universe born in a manger because there was no room. In the world’s eyes, He was the son of an accused fornicator and nothing more. It took His resurrection for many, including His family, to accept who He was. His true majesty has yet to be fully revealed.
I think it’s safe to say He’s been through it before. Because He’s been through it, He can and will help us through it.
During the Christmas season, it's easy to focus on the virgin birth and loose sight of all the details that surrounded it. Details that make the story almost unbelievable. Details that God perfectly orchestrated. Details that if not perfectly orchestrated would have changed the course of history.
The sad thing is that much of the world missed these details and therefore missed the event. These people were not properly aligned to see God's hand at work. The scary thing is that we face the same possibility today. If we are not properly aligned, we will not "know" the shepherd's voice, we will not see His hand, and we likely miss His plan in action.
For the Gospel to be "good news" the need for a savior must be established. Once the need is established, the "good news" becomes the best news ever and we can't wait to receive it. Although salvation is obtained by simply receiving the gospel, our decision should be reflected in our lives. Salvation should be evidenced by our continuing steadfastly, pursuing the knowledge of Christ, confessing sins to stay in the relationship, being a part of the church, and being submitted to the Holy Spirit's promptings.
As we enter the holiday season, we tend to reflect on everything we have to be thankful for. If you have a hard time finding things to be thankful for, it's time for a change of perspective.
As Christians, we should be the most thankful people on the planet. Not only for all that has been but also what will be done by God. No matter how much we have to be thankful for now, the best is yet to come.
We all know the promises God has made to us. We can probably even recite many of the scriptures containing them from memory. The question is, do we know the condition(s) tied to the promise(s)? Many, if not all, of God’s promises are attached to conditions that we are called to meet. In order to claim the promise(s), we have to know and meet the condition(s).
The call to fruitfulness is two-fold. We are called to be fruitful and multiply. The first step to bearing fruit is to abide in the vine, as we have been discussing. As we abide, fruit will be produced in our lives. Multiplication occurs as that fruit is spread. As we cultivate fruit in our lives; seeds are spread, planted, and produce fruit in others.
The idea of being fruitful and multiplying is exciting but there is a word of caution. The law of nature is that a seed will produce fruit after it's kind. Knowing this, we need to be careful of the seeds we allow to be planted in our lives and of the seeds we plant in others.
Abide is not a commonly used word these days. However, if you spend much time at all reading the New Testament, you are likely to come across it. Due to it's prominence, it is obviously something we should consider and understand.
Being a Christian does not mean you are abiding. Becoming a Christian grafts us to the vine but it takes effort to abide there. An effort that is much more than attending church on Sunday and checking off our daily list of "Christian To-Dos." Abiding insinuates a permanent state.
"If God really knew me, there’s no way He could love me." This is likely a train of thought we have found ourselves in a time or two. Thankfully, our standing is not based on our own merit , because our righteousness is as filthy rags. Our standing is based on His merit and we have been counted as righteous and seated in heavenly places.
We are known by our fruits. A Christian that is not bearing fruit should examine themselves and determine the cause. Perhaps the soil has not been properly prepared. Perhaps thorns have made there way in and choking out the good fruit. Perhaps we are not abiding in the vine.
Whatever the reason, we need to address it because God is looking for and desires fruit from our lives. We should have this same desire because, we are known by our fruits and a “tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
It's easy to say "I believe in Jesus," but our we living a life that backs this statement up or a life that is contrary.
God is looking for faithfulness. When things are going good, faithfulness is easy. It's when life happens, when things get a little more real, faithfulness is tested and proven.
Will you stand before Him and hear "Well done good and faithful servant" or "depart from me you who practice lawlessness." It's a sobering consideration, but one that is definitely better to consider now rather than later.
The joy at the time of salvation is undeniable. Unfortunately, that new found joy, a joy that feels like it could never go away seems to dwindle as we face a few trials and are knocked down a couple of times. The good news is that our joy can be maintained and/or rekindled. When we switch the source of our joy from what He has done for us to what He has in store for us, no longer will our joy level be determined by our circumstances.
To say that love is the motivating factor behind everything God has done, is doing, and will do for us is not saying anything we haven’t heard before. However, when we reflect on the things He has done for us out of love, we have a desire to share that love. When we share that love, when we allow others to encounter that love; lives are reached, lives are restored, lives are revived.
Restoration is a process. Like any other process; it may be daunting at times, we may become discouraged and lose hope in the middle of it, or it may be more challenging that we anticipated. One thing to help propel us through the process is to have a vision of the end goal. When we are able to cast a vision and cling to the promise of our complete restoration, we will be able to endure the process of getting us there.
As with many things in life, vision should not be taken lightly. If our vision does not align with God’s, we will find ourselves of course in our daily lives. The longer we pursue a vision that is not in proper alignment, the further off course we will end up.
Before we start casting vision for our lives, we need to be sure we are aligned with Him. Then our plans will align with His plans. Our purposes will align with His purposes. Our vision will align with His vision. Our lives will align with His will.
A life without purpose is a life lacking worth. If you find your life today lacking purpose, cast a vision for tomorrow. “A vision is a picture of a preferred future that stirs passion and steers purpose” (Chip Judd).