From the beginning, God wanted to be with His people as He once was in the garden. As the Lord rescued His people from slavery in Egypt, He would make a way to dwell with them through the Tabernacle, where His presence would guide the people. Many years later, Jesus would walk into the temple of God and see a mess: swindlers and moneychangers had taken over, and the place God had set aside to dwell with His people had become a "den of robbers." As Jesus dies on the cross and sends the Holy Spirit to dwell in the heart and life of the believer, we now become that Holy Place, the temple of God. But have we prepared a place, a Holy life worthy of His presence?
When the Lord put into the mind of Nehemiah to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, the call of God became an all consuming, obsession in Nehemiah that would require him to seek God, endure resistance and persevere to the finish line. God places different purposes and calling in all of us. Have you listened to what God is calling you to do? Have you seen the Lord confirm the work of your hands? Are you willing to endure the resistance that will inevitably come so that you may persevere to the end?
God’s Word declares that the mind set on the flesh is death and the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. The unredeemed, fleshly mind is hostile toward God and unable to subject itself to His law of righteousness. However, through the awakening power of the gospel, a lost person can be given a new mind, alive in the Spirit. Once made alive in Christ, we joyfully concur with the law of God in our hearts. Yet for as long as we live in our earthly bodies, fleshly lusts will be at war with our soul. Praise God that the weapons of our warfare are divinely powerful!
Paul was writing letters from jail with joy. Can you imagine? Have you ever wanted to quit? Often, even when you have surrendered your life to Jesus, even if you can identify with Paul’s heart, you can still sometimes feel stuck in your own “jail.” Remain steadfast, have hope, trust in God and seek His face—because He is worthy! If He brought you to it, He will bring you through it. Be encouraged by the message titled “Don’t Quit” by our guest speaker Bishop Wingate from Power Hope and Grace Church.
Abraham journeyed to Mount Moriah with the instruction to sacrifice his son Isaac. They traveled with the wood, the fire and a knife, but no lamb for sacrifice. Upon arrival at the place that God has instructed, Abraham placed Isaac upon the altar and raised the knife. At this moment, he was interrupted and shown a ram caught in a thicket. Isaac was released from the altar and the ram offered in his place. We are all Isaac and Jesus is the sacrifice in our place, setting us free from the law of sin and death. Have you accepted Jesus by faith for your salvation?
To be tested by God is to have the authenticity of our devotion to Him examined. Testing times are comparable to purifying a precious metal in a hot fire. When God tested Abraham by asking that he offer his son Isaac as a burnt offering, He was testing his heart, faith, and obedience. What might the Lord be putting you through in order to test you? Will you allow this season of fire to bring about a perfecting work?
The Word of God is alive, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. After many years of exile in Babylon, we see in the book of Nehemiah the Israelites back in their own land, standing attentively to hear the Word of the law proclaimed. Pierced to the heart with conviction, they found themselves mourning when faced with the righteous standard of God. In this message titled "The Word," we will see how the Word of God saves and transforms, and how God calls His followers to grow to maturity by letting His Word dwell richly within.
In the later years of King David’s life, he was again confronted by a formidable giant intent on killing him. After receiving help and gaining a victory, 3 more giants appeared, who were defeated. We all face giants in our lives, but the Lord is the believer’s victory. Giants replace giants, as Jesus promised we would face recurring trouble in this world, but He encouraged true disciples to have courage, for He has overcome the world! What is your giant’s name? Do you belong by faith to the only one Who can deliver victory to your life?
After the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they set it next to the idol of Dagon. In the morning, Dagon was found to be bowing before the Ark of God. The Philistines set it back in its place only to find it again bowed down with its head and hands cut off. Many people attempt to place God next to the idols in their hearts and lives, but the Bible tells us that the temple of God has no agreement with idols. Believers in Jesus are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Have you attempted to place God next to an idol? Will you heed the Lord’s warning to purify your temple?
When Jesus sent the disciples to the other side of the sea, they encountered a great storm. Though Jesus was on a mountain praying and the disciples were a long distance from land, He saw them, He came to them, He got in their boat and He calmed the storm. Wherever you are today, Jesus sees you when nobody else does. He comes to all of us and for those willing to receive Him into the boat, He will calm your storm and save your life.
When Jesus addressed the church in Laodicea, He gave no commendation. Upon assessing their deeds He rendered them lukewarm and warned that they would be spit out of His mouth. Their earthly prosperity had inoculated them to a dire spiritual condition. While they were wealthy on the outside, they were bankrupt on the inside. Like many today, the Laodiceans were blind to the pending judgment upon them. By His grace, Jesus beckoned to them to answer His knocking at their door and be truly clothed and enriched by His power alone. Is Jesus knocking on your life now?
In the letter to the church in Philadelphia, Jesus introduced Himself as the One who holds the key of David. It is He alone who opens and shuts the kingdom of heaven. He opens for those who have come to Him by faith and shuts to all others so that no one can open. He encouraged the believers in Philadelphia to persevere in what little power they had left against the synagogue of Satan. One day, there will come an hour of testing for all who dwell on the earth. Those who belong to Jesus by faith will be kept from undergoing the wrath of God. Is His Name written on your soul?
To the church in Sardis, Jesus observed that though they had a reputation for being alive, they were in fact, dead. Many churches may have great numbers, budgets, activities and reputation, yet they are spiritually dead. Jesus urgently called them to wake up and remember what they had once received and heard and repent of their spiritual lethargy. Jesus promised that He would confess the genuine believer before His Father in Heaven. Have you first confessed Jesus as Lord so as to be saved?
When the Son of God sent His message to the church at Thyatira, He commended them for their deeds, love, faith, service, and perseverance. However, He warned that they had tolerated the influence of Jezebel, thereby bringing in idolatry and immorality. Many today are tolerating corrosive influences into their lives and doctrine. The Lord gave Jezebel time to repent, but she did not want to. God’s patience is presently allowing many people not to repent, and similarly, some don’t want to. Isaiah warns that there will come a day of reckoning for everyone who is proud, lofty, and lifted up. Are there things you need to repent of while God’s kindness allows you the time?
