Month: April 2020

Saved!

This pandemic is powerful, it has shaken our entire world!

Everyone’s life has been shaken!

We will never be the same on the other side of this!

I find it interesting that in the middle of this shaking comes Holy week; the Passion of Jesus!

Talk about a powerful shaking!

A shaking that changed the world forever!

A shaking that ushered in an unshakable kingdom!

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29

When God called Moses to Mount Sinai He told Moses to tell the people not to follow, not to even approach or touch the mountain, for He is a holy God, unapproachable by sinful men.

Moses approached the mountain of God with fear and trembling! It was there God gave Moses the commandments His people were to obey so He could dwell with them.

But, as I read through the Old Testament I find those commandments, while intended for their good, were neglected and rebelled against.

Those commandments actually brought out the reality of their inability to obey.

God’s people were constantly shaken by a cycle of obedience, disobedience, repentance, obedience…

God loved His people and His peace, protection, and provision were evidences of His love for them.

But, God is a holy God, and holiness requires perfection!

God’s people weren’t perfect!

God’s people needed to be perfected!

God’s people needed a Perfect Sacrifice whose blood didn’t just cover their sin, but removed it completely!

God’s people needed a Perfect Savior whose righteousness gave them access into the presence of God! 

God’s people needed a Perfect Power to overcome the shaking of rebellion and sin! 

The events in the life of Jesus shook everyone  around Him and changed their lives forever!

Shaking brings with it the need to reach for something steady. Something to hold onto that won’t give way and fall. 

As I navigate this pandemic, this shaking of everything in my life, what am I reaching out for to steady me?

What can I hold on to that won’t give way and fall?

I know it is no coincidence that holy week is right in the middle, right during the most crucial time, of this pandemic!

My answer is found in the UNSHAKABLE KINGDOM OF JESUS!

This picture was taken at Sight and Sound theater during the performance of JESUS. They are making this available and free for all this weekend…

“We are thrilled to announce that JESUS will be made available for FREE in celebration of Easter! For three days only, experience the greatest rescue story of all time as it comes to life right in your living room. Exclusively available on TBN, watch it on your favorite device by downloading the TBN app, or stream it online April 10-12 only!”

 

David was the REAL DEAL!

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked came against me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army may encamp against me,
My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me,
In this I will be confident.

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.
5 For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;
Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;
I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice!
Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.
8 When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
9 Do not hide Your face from me;
Do not turn Your servant away in anger;
You have been my help;
Do not leave me nor forsake me,
O God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
Then the Lord will take care of me.

11 Teach me Your way, O Lord,
And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.
12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;
For false witnesses have risen against me,
And such as breathe out violence.
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Psalm 27

Last evening I read an article about the effects of fear upon the human body. It was written by one who has intently studied the brain and documented many tests of how our thoughts effect us physically. What I found fascinating was that though it wasn’t written from a Biblical basis, everything he wrote purely from the physical aspect lined up with what God has said in the Bible!
God says He didn’t give us a spirit of fear, and that His perfect love casts out all fear…
God tells us not to worry about anything, and not to be anxious…
God tells us that as a man thinks, so is he…
God says that He has given us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind…
that nothing will ever separate us from His love,
and that we should trust, rejoice, and praise Him in all things…
These aren’t just some nice words of poetry God wrote thousands of years ago.
These are words of truth that are for our good, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually!
God intends that we believe them, trust in them, and obey them!
Faith in God keeps us healthy!
God called David “a man after God’s own heart.”
Reading the Psalms shows us why. David didn’t live a life of leisure. Things didn’t always go well for David. It wasn’t because God provided an easy life filled with everything he needed.
David faced many hardships, many enemies, and many impossible situations in life. Those were what increased his faith and proved his love and trust in God. The ways he responded to the things he faced were the very reasons he was “a man after God’s own heart.”
It is the way we face the trials of life that prove what is in our hearts.
When David went out to the battle field and saw Goliath taunting the army of God a righteous indignation rose up within him. How dare someone mock, taunt, and defy the people of God!
David looked past the size and experience of Goliath, and saw the defiance of his God and that was what David fought against.
David’s loyalty was to His God and to the people of God. 
David’s trust was in the ability of his God.
When those around him questioned his zeal to go and fight Goliath, he remembered the times he fought other enemies and the supernatural power God provided for his protection and the protection of those he was taking care of.
“ Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”  Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” 1 Samuel 17:36-37
David’s faith was developed through adversity. He learned that on his own he could do nothing, but there was One who was for him who had the power and might to deliver him from anything that threatened him.
When David looked past the adversary and saw God, he didn’t fear, but had confidence. 
Faith is what keeps us healthy; physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually!