trust

August 28, 2014

Are You Standing Firm in these 9 Areas?

The elephant that visited the entrance to the Serengeti reserve in Tanzania didn’t give up ground to anyone.

Our guides got quite agitated by how close we were willing to be with a lone bull elephant. We got pictures, but we quickly surrender the path to the elephant. After a few minutes, he slowly moved away but he reminded me of call from Scripture to stand firm.

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV ) Are you standing firm in these nine areas?

1. Stand Firm in Faith

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13 NIV)
“But that does not mean we want to dominate you by telling you how to put your faith into practice. We want to work together with you so you will be full of joy, for it is by your own faith that you stand firm.” (2 Corinthians 1:24 NLT)

2. Stand Firm in the Power of God

“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11 NLT)
“Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.” (Ephesians 6:3-14 MSG)

3. Stand Firm in the Grace of God

“My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.” (1 Peter 5:12b NLT)

4. Stand Firm in Freedom

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1 NIV)

5. Stand Firm in Unity

“Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.” (Philippians 1:27 NLT)

6. Stand Firm in the Will of God

“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.” (Colossians 4:12 NIV)

7. Stand Firm in the Truth you have been taught

“So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.” (2 Thessalonians 2:15 NIV)

8. Stand Firm in Expectation of Jesus’ Return

“Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” (James 5:7-8 NIV)
“All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22 NIV)

9. Stand Firm in Your Relationship with Christ Jesus.

“Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends!” (Philippians 4:1 NIV)
“Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 3:7-8 NIV)
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ.” (2 Corinthians 1:21a NIV)

Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does. (1 Peter 5:8-11 MSG)

September 20, 2013

Promises Propel Purity

Have you seen the the Sister Carol Style clip (search youtube “Sister Carol Style Josh Laster) that was shown at the Valley Fellowship Christmas 2011 Banquet? Josh, Brock, and Jorge’s parody still makes me smile. At Kimberlyn’s sixteen birthday party, Mom joined in in the Wii room – but I don’t think she thought about all the phones with cameras. Mom is a “holy lady” whose lifestyle was certainly inspired by God’s Word.

God’s Word helped my mom and will help you, too. God’s promises offer you powerful tools to withstand temptation. Read the fourth chapter of Matthew and see how Jesus quoted Scripture – God’s promises – to win over satan’s temptation. In the wilderness, Jesus wasn’t carrying a scroll of the Book of Deuteronomy. How did He know the verses – the promises – that were needed for each challenge?

I bet He spent time memorizing God’s Word. His memorization and meditation before the battle equipped Jesus for victory. Notice that Jesus spoke the promise aloud. There is something significant about speaking God’s Word. We are strengthened by our confession and agreement with God’s promises.

Do you have enough Scripture stored within your heart and mind to be successful in the face of temptation, or fear, or rejection, or persecution, or hardship, or sickness, or what-ever-is-attacking-you? Do you have Scriptures hidden in your heart that bolster your faith to flee from sexual sin? Have you meditated God’s promises of His presence, His protection, and His provision to the point that when you are tested – you ace the test?

The apostle Paul reminds the readers of his letter to Corinth of several promises.

For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. (2 Corinthians 6:16b-7:1 NIV)

God’s wonderful promises should motivate our forward pursuit. As we hold on to His promises, His Word pushes us toward Christlike holiness and purity.

More than three hundred fifty years ago, Puritan pastor Thomas Watson expounded upon 2 Corinthians 7:1 in an afternoon sermon (August 17, 1662), wisely advising believers:

Trade much in the promises. The promises are great supports to faith. Faith lives in a promise, as the fish lives in the water. The promises are both comforting and quickening …. The promises of God are bladders [flotation devices/lifesavers!] to keep us from sinking when we come to the waters of affliction. The promises are sweet clusters of grapes that grow upon Christ the true vine. O! trade much in the promises; there is no condition that you can be in, but you have a promise. (Farewell Sermons, p. 200)

Let God’s promises propel your purity.

September 19, 2013

Need a Promise?

God is faithful to fulfill everything He has promised. God never lies, and His Word is reliable.

“God is the great reality. His resources are available and endless. His promises are real and glorious, beyond our wildest dreams.” (J.B. Phillips)

When you think you have got a promise picked out, ask yourself the following:

To whom is the promise given (what is the context of the promise)?
Does the promise apply to me under the New Covenant?
Is the promise conditional or unconditional?
Is the promise (qualified) limited or modified or balanced by other parts of Scripture?

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“God’s promise is present in His Word, which speaks of the blessings He intends to give to His people…. God also continues to be the one who gives promises concerning the blessings He will bestow on His people, such as the promise of release from the power of sin and the promise of the Spirit.” (Eerdmans Bible Dictionary, p. 852)

Have you taken advantage the great promise of salvation through Jesus Christ? “Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 TLB) If so, avail yourself to the benefits of membership in God’s family. Pick a promise to meditate – ponder it, think about it over and over – and let faith arise in your heart. Say the verse aloud. Be loud enough that your ears hear it!

Promise of Jesus’ Presence Now and Forever: “Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NLT)
Promise of the Holy Spirit: “As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13 GNT)
Promise that God Works for Good: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 NASB)
Promise that Nothing can Separate us from God’s Love: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? …. No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”(Romans 8:35-39 NIV)
Promise that God will Meet Needs: “And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 AMP)
Promise that God will Renew Strength: “But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.” (Isaiah 40:31 AMP)

“God is the God of promise. He keeps His word, even when that seems impossible; even when the circumstances seem to point to the opposite.” (Colin Urquhart)

Here are a few tips for finding promises to meditate, to hold in your heart, and to buoy your spirit.

Read your Bible every single day.
Take good notes while you are listening to sermons.
Ask another believer what Scriptures he/she is meditating.
Buy a study Bible with notes and reference suggestions.
Do a search for a particular word at Biblegateway.com.
Use a concordance and look up each verse.
Buy a compilation book such as God’s Promise for Your Every Need that has verses arranged topically.
For a deeper study of God’s promises, pick up a copy of Larry Richard’s Every Promise in the Bible.

Why not take God at His Word? You will discover yourself worshiping like the psalmist, “Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much.” (Psalm 119:140 NLT) Trust God’s Promises!

September 18, 2013

Promise? YES & AMEN!

Trust God’s promises! When the Lord pledges to fulfill a specified act, you can rest assured that He certainly will fulfill it. I want you read the following passages and let the reality of truth sink deep within your spirit. Yes and Amen!

“Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God’s Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge—a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.” (2 Corinthians 1:20-22 MSG)

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1:3-4 NIV)

“God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us.” (2 Peter 1:4a CEV)

Many songs have been written lifting up this wonderful assurance and several are playing inside my head right now. I can hear those trumpets in the background of Russell Fragar’s “Yes & Amen” (1997 HillSong Music). I can imagine the harmonica that the Brownsville Revival worship team accented for “All Your Promises” (Andrew Smith, 1995 Mercy/Vineyard). Jared Anderson’s voice is ringing out, “All Your promises won’t let go of me” (“Promises,” 2006 Vertical Worship). You could probably find versions of all those songs on youtube. I bet you can think of more songs extolling God’s promises.

Can any of you remember singing the hymn “Standing on the Promises“? When I was about eleven years old, I was intrigued by the added bass melody on the chorus. One of the older men in the choir had a deep bass voice that would rumble through each time we sang it at church. I recall trying to get my voice to sing as LOW as I could go, “Standing on the promises, standing on the promises!” I tried! I really did, but I never could get my voice down to that register. However, all my private attempts to sing “bass” ended up giving me a reminder of where I can rest my faith.

Even in a world of doubt and uncertainty, the Bible remains a steadfast foundation. The promises of God’s Word are worth celebrating! If my Grandma Martin was alive, I bet she would say, “Let’s stand and sing the first, second and fourth verses!”

Standing on the promises of Christ my King; Thro’ eternal ages let His praises ring
Glory in the highest I will shout and sing – Standing on the promises of God
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Standing on the promises that cannot fail; When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail
By the living Word of God I shall prevail – Standing on the promises of God

Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord; Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord
Overcoming daily with the Spirit’s Sword – Standing on the promises of God

Standing (standing on the promises) [Come on sing out! Basses, let me hear you.]
Standing (standing on the promises)
Standing on the promises of God my Savior
Standing (standing on the promises)
Standing (standing on the promises)
I’m standing on the promises of God. [Russell Kelso Carter, public domain, 1886]

I wonder if my nephew Garrison knows this hymn. Hey, Garrison, were God’s promises on your mind when this picture was taken?

September 17, 2013

God Doesn’t Lie

For their last gift on Christmas day 2008, Rozy and Kimberlyn opened a box with a mostly-empty Disney scrapbook with Mickey’s face on the cover. When the girls first opened the package, they looked a bit bewildered, because usually give the best gift LAST. Their faces seem to ask “What’s this?”

Our reservation information was attached on the first page of the book (along with a picture of our family taped to a picture of the Cinderella’s Castle), but the girls still didn’t get it. Still puzzled, Patti and I finally announced aloud, “Spring break, we are going to Disney World!” And, the shouting started! Rozy and Kimberlyn immediately started counting days. They had asked (many, many times) to go, and they joyfully anticipated that family vacation.

One of the reasons that felt free to express such joy is the fact that Patti and I do our best to NOT lie to our children. Because we have tried to be honest with them, Rozy and Kimberlyn believed what we said. I am not perfect; yes, I have misspoken and failed to deliver on a number of occasions, but my daughters trusted that Disney was on the way. Before that Christmas morning, Patti and I had followed through with what we had promised enough times, that the girls were quite sure they would soon be seeing Minnie Mouse.

Simple pictures cannot capture how happy Rozy and Kimberlyn were to enter the Magic Kingdom and actually see Cinderella’s castle.

One reason so many of us have such difficulty in trusting God’s promises is because of the pain we have all suffered from people who did not stay true to their word. Unfaithful spouses, backstabbing friends, lying politicians, misleading infomercials, too-busy parents, broken promises – all wound us. We don’t trust for we have learned not to trust. We witness heartbreak, hear disappointing stories, and expect broken promises.
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However, God always keeps His promises.“God is not a human being, and He will not lie.” (Numbers 23:19 NCV) God doesn’t lie, so we can certainly trust His promises. A promise is an assurance that one will do something or that something will happen, and what God has promised – He certainly will get done. We can read hundreds of promises that God has issued in the Bible. Some of the promises are specific to a particular circumstance or a particular individual, but many are available for any believer. Often promises are conditional – demanding an action or response by the individual in order to enjoy the promise. Many require nothing but a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. Some require nothing at all; God is faithful to Himself, so He will accomplish what He as spoken.

The importance of people trusting and acting God’s promise is an overarching theme of the Patriarchs of Genesis – Abraham, Issac, Jacob, and even Joseph. God’s promise kick-starts each of their stories. Their response to God’s promise is a decisive ingredient for success. The New Testament writers regularly lift up Abraham as an example of faith, faithfulness, and trust in God’s promise. Paul writes, “Yet he [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.” (Romans 4:20-21 NIV)

“True faith is essentially reasonable because it trusts in the character and the promises of God. A believing Christian is one whose mind reflects and rests on these certitudes.” (John R.W. Stott)

The Psalmist enlightens us as to the reasons the Israelis of Exodus were unable to enter the Promised Land. Guess what makes the list? “They did not believe His promise” (Psalm 106:24b NIV) The great reformer Martin Luther pondered, “What greater rebellion, impiety, or insult to God can there be than not to believe His promises?”

I don’t want to insult God. I bet you don’t either! God doesn’t lie. It’s time for us to trust His promises.

September 16, 2013

God Keeps His Promises

I may have been young, but I truly meant the promise I made on June 20, 1987. The promise I made was significant. The promise I made was genuine. The promise I made I plan on keeping to Patti for all of my years to come.

More than twenty-six years ago, I made a marital promise to the most amazing woman in the world. When I consider my daughter Rozy’s age, I realize just how YOUNG I was when I knew that Patti was the ONE for me. (Rozy and Kimberlyn, you don’t need to rush!) But, marrying Patti is a decision I have never regretted and a promise that want to fulfill.

A promise is a pledge to fulfill a specified act. The Bible contains numerous promises. Some promises are made by God to a specific person. Some promises are given by God to His children (ex. John 14:13). Some are crafted by God to Jesus (ex. John 13:3–5). Some are composed by one individual to another (ex. Neh. 5:12), and some are spoken by a believer to God (ex. Eccl. 5:4–10).

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“God is the God of promise. He keeps His word, even when that seems impossible; even when the circumstances seem to point to the opposite.” (Colin Urquhart)

March 10, 2013

Looking For Love

Have you ever gone looking for love, or for acceptance, or to have your needs met outside of God’s plan for your life?

Do any of you remember Johnny Lee’s 1980 chart-topping-single “Looking for Love”? I didn’t see Urban Cowboy (the movie that introduced the song), but the song got LOTS of radio airplay on my school bus. I wasn’t a country music fan, but I can still recall the lyrics, “Looking for love in all the wrong places. Looking for love in too many faces, searching their eyes, looking for traces of what I’m dreaming of . . .”

The Old Testament offers a great example of someone who went looking in the wrong place. David had no business living in the land of the Philistines (1 Samuel 27, 29). Here are two big reasons for NOT living in Philistia:

David was already anointed to be king (1 Samuel 16). He couldn’t be killed and fulfill God’s plan.
God warned the Israelis of the dangers of close relations with sinful outsiders.

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David and his loyal band of misfits become pirates and liars while living in Philistia. Could the bad influence of the people around whom David chose to live be the reason nothing is said about God for the 16 months David lives in Ziklag?

I know that Saul repeatedly tried to kill David, but God delivered David every time. Why did David no longer trust God’s protection in Israel? I think David suffered from three common worries.

#1 “I’m not sure my needs will be met.”

#2 “I don’t want to get rejected by my peer group.”

#3 “I want to feel accepted or loved.”

David suffered from that internal need for acceptance – to the extreme he was willing to seek it from a Philistine king. David tried in vain to meet his own needs. David certainly got no sense of peace from King Saul but King Achish of Gath was the wrong place to go looking.

Too often people seek out the wrong folks for security. God hasn’t called you to live life outside the community of faith. David’s decision to seek acceptance outside of Israel ended horribly. Ultimately David and his men get rejected by the Philistines who refuse to fight alongside of them. David even gets rejected by his own men when they return from being rejected by the Philistines. Finally, David recognizes his mistake.

Even after his experience in Ziklag, David struggled with this same kind of concerns, but David takes his emotions to the right place. Instead of looking for love in the wrong place, David goes to the Lord directly. I appreciate David’s willingness to bare his unprocessed sentiments in open worship.

“O Lord, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble?” (Psalm 10:1 NLT)
“Quick, God, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down, All the friends I depended on gone. Everyone talks in lie language; Lies slide off their oily lips. They doubletalk with forked tongues.” (Psalm 12:1-2 MSG)
“My God, my God, why have you deserted me? Why do you seem to be so far away when I need you to save me? Why do you seem to be so far away that you can’t hear my groans?” (Psalm 22:1 NIRV) Every human knows this concern. Jesus used the words from this Psalm while hanging on the cross.

Your circumstances may be quite different than David’s, yet you feel those same pressure points of worry and concern. What will you do with them? Take time today to read all of Psalm 10, 12, and 22. See how the Psalmist David learned to handle those raw emotions.

God is never threatened by your honesty in prayer and worship. He knows everything about you and still invites you to come to Him. Get God’s perspective on your life. Don’t look for love in the wrong place. You are called to respond in faith to trials and difficulties in life.

For more insight into David’s Ziklag experience, check out http://www.pastorgreg.org/distressed-3-sources-to-encourage-yourself/.