Words of Encouragement

The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground. – Joshua 3: 17



Walking over on dry ground. God is in the deep, part 1. The priests walked into the deepest end of the Jordan, right in the middle and stood firm. As they stood firm, the people walked completely across the Jordan on dry ground to the other side. Let us look at this for a moment, before all the people crossed over, the priest with the ark were already in the middle waiting for them to reach them. This is a reminder for us that before we even reach the deepest end of our situations, the darkest hour, or the most difficult place, God is already their waiting to see us safely through.

When you're in the deep end, God is there. And as the priest stood firm, you can stand firm in the depth of your situations. God will continue to be in our situations until we have made it to the other side. And you don't have to be even slightly touched by the waters. They walked on dry ground. We can walk on dry ground. We don't have to be heavy from the waters taking us over. Have you ever tried to walk in wet clothes? It takes a long time for them to get dry and they can be quite uncomfortable. We'll they didn't have to reach the other side and be held down by the load. They reached the other side, free. So can we. We can be free as we go through to the other side of our situations.

Remember that when the floods of this life would seem to be over taking you, you can still be "dry" and get to the other side, to the finish of the problem. I am praying for us this week that we hear the steps God has for us to find the victory he has for us. We must listen to him. That means we must come away from the distractions and come and here him alone. We must be willing to follow even those instructions we find strange. Then we must move to carry them out. We then have to move by faith and trust that God is already in the midst preparing our safe journey to our victory.



When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Isaiah 43:2-3



Walking over on dry ground. God is in the deep, part 2. This week, I gave the steps for walking through on "dry ground". Today’s scripture reinforces that message. I love how God's word will say something over and over again. Why? God’s word will reinforce itself so that we get the message. This scripture is reminding us of whom we can trust in. It's a scripture of comfort. It let's us know that yes, we will have to go through some things, but God is in control. He is able to handle everything we face.


When we pass through the water, He's with us. So when the "floods" of life come, we can get through it, because He is with us. Have you ever seen a raging river? When the waters are flowing, people have been sweep away, because they underestimated the force of the water. Sometimes that's what happens to us in this life, we underestimate the force of the raging rivers in our lives. But even in those situations, God says he will keep us from getting sweep away. He's able to pick you up out of the raging rivers and place you on a safe, dry ground.


When life turns up the heat on you, you don't have to get burned! Why? God is in control. Not only can He keep you from getting burned, he can keep back the smell of the fire off you. Think about the Hebrew boys in the furnace. They were in the midst of the fire, but they were not burned, and they were not loss, why? Because God was in the midst. Not only did they come out of the furnace, but also the Lord kept the flame from kindling them (or scorching their clothes). So we can go through life’s "fires" but we can come out FREE. Why? God is in control.

I don't have to walk around with anger, hurts, or anything that holds me in bondage, because I can come out of those fires, without even the scent of every having been in it.


WHY? Because the Holy One, the Savior, the LORD, GOD is in control. Praise His Holy Name! When you go to worship this week, know that victory is ahead of you. No matter what your situation is, God is already in the midst of it, waiting for you so he can see you through. God praising him for what he is already doing in you and what he will continue to do.

The Week in Review

Psalm 133 - A Psalm of Harmony

Show Yourself Friendly Retreat (Part 5)

Living in harmony is life…Dew…Harmony is as refreshing as the dew…

* Is Abundant - Dew is numerous in droplets. Therefore our efforts to live in harmony should be numerous. We should be willing to forgive when others hurt us. Not just seven times, but more like seventy time seventy. Our words, deeds and teaching should be plentiful and encourage others so they are like dew upon a tender plant it helps it to grow.


“Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.” - Deuteronomy 32:2

* Is Refreshing – Standing in a mist is cooling on a hot day. It should be the same with us. We should be able to come into situations and not “heat” them up, but be like the cool mist that cools the scorching heat of men’s passions, and calm down situations and bring a refreshing to a situation. Like the dew that refreshes, our harmony with God refreshes us, allowing us to be refreshment for others.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,” – Acts 3:19

* Is Fruitful –The falling of dew contributes to the growth of fruit. It moistens the heart and makes it tender and fit to receive the good seed of the word. Harmony is like dew, which brings forth fruit. It brings new life to the community or the family of God. We become that dew that waters those we have been given to oversee, God gives us charges that we must help grow.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. – Psalm 1:3



…as the dew from the Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion…


Dew of Hermon - a common hill – This is brotherly love in our civil, everyday lives. This is our relationships with friends, co-workers, how we treat people we meet, the lady we sit next to every day at work or the person across from us in class. If we are willing to show ourselves friendly in our common areas we become like dew that pours off the Mount Hermon (our common places) and it falls on the mountains of Zion. What does that mean?


Dew of mountains of Zion - A holy hill – In scripture we see often how the writers say this is the place where God dwells. So this means when we show ourselves friendly first in our common areas that dew that was poured out there can contribute greatly to the fruitfulness of sacred relationships. We are called to show ourselves friendly so that we can be dew upon our unsaved so that that may shift them to being our brothers and sisters in Christ. We are then being called to love both those in our churches but also those that are not part of the family. God requires this because then we become what he wants us to be, those that reconcile the unsaved back to him, just as he did for us. It is important to also understand that both Hermon and Zion will wither without dew. If we do not live in harmony both the relationship in our common places and our sacred places will die.



Harmony brings blessings.…And there the Lord has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting…

* Loving People are Blessed People – “For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.” Deuteronomy 30:16


The proof of the Excellency of brotherly love is that loving people are blessed people. There are blessed of God. Those that live in love and peace shall have the God of love and peace with them now, and they shall be with him forever. One important thing to understand is that we can receive the blessings and provisions of God only when we are in harmony with him. If we do not love our brothers that we see, how can we say we love God whom we do not see?


The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. deut 28:8 (KJV)


Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. psalm 42:8 (KJV)


The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy salvation how greatly shall he rejoice! Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah. For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him, even length of days for ever and ever - Ps 21:1-4



----FINAL NOTES----


What have we learned from this psalm 133? It is truly wonderful and pleasant when we can live in harmony. God mandates that you and I seek him first so we can live as his friend and no longer as his enemy. He then requires us to seek to love one another. Not a surface relationship but one that is in agreement in our actions and in our seeking the best for each other.

The Week in Review

The Realistic and the Idealistic View of the Church

Written 3/29/07

The author, Gilbert W. Stafford, in his book, Theology for Disciples, gives reference to idealistic and realistic views of the New Testament Church. The question is how can these ideas help bring renewal to the contemporary Church? When these ideas are coupled together, they can be useful for the contemporary church today because they can help better define her goals and to see her areas of need.

Stafford first states that the Gospels are placed at the beginning of the New Testament to signify the priority that the early church placed on discipleship as the basic category for understanding the nature of the church. The church as Stafford points out was called many names, such as the people of God. He explains how these ideas were to be enacted within the body of believers.


His first definition of the church as the body of Christ placed the accent on the church as the ongoing means by which the risen, ascended, reigning, and coming Lord makes himself known in history between his first and second advent (160). In other words, the church is to have a role in the mission of presenting Christ’s redemptive power to the unsaved.


His second definition is that the church is a place where the reconciled come together. Those that are both reconciled with God and with each other. It is the place where God’s presence is on earth. The third definition of the church is as the people of God, with the accent on its vocation.


Therefore, the idealistic view of the church is it is a fellowship of those who trust in Christ. It is the people of the new covenant linked to those of the Old Testament. They are a group of believers devoting to growing in Christ. It is a body of divine grace for the edification of believers and for blessing all. It is an expression of God’s mission to the world. It is also the community of believers waiting for Christ’s return.


This idealistic view however when placed alongside the realistic picture of the church, does not always live up to the idealistic idea. The New Testament church had struggles, corruption and deficiencies within its structure as it attempted to grow and spread the gospel.

While fellowship was important some fell short and problems arose such as those that wanted believers to obey the laws (such as circumcision). There were some devoted to growing in Christ, but there was also a problem for example of sexual sins that Paul had to address that was taking place within the church. The church was to be an organism of divine grace for the edification of believers, but there was a time the church was a stumbling block to believers (for example the debate of eating meat used within idol worship ceremonies). There were problems with gifts and confusion about usage of tongues. The church should have been an expression of God’s mission to the world, but the Asian churches were lacking in missionary zeal.

One of the greatest examples the New Testament church can be to the contemporary church is it was not perfect but it was in the process of growing into what God was calling the church to be. Even in her state of lack, God still added to the church daily. Stafford explains that the view of the idealistic is that the church is pure, spotless, blameless, holy and concerned only with the salvation of people and the glory of God. On the other hand the realist sees the church as too human, harsh, intolerant full of every kind of failing.

Instead, the church today needs to take a blend of both to help the church become what it should be. The church is the body of Christ, but it is in the process of growing and therefore has many shortcomings. The church can however still find comfort in knowing that as she is becoming, God is still adding to the church as he sees fit. It calls for the church today to view itself as a body of believers in need of divine guidance, directing and renewing to continue to grow into what God is calling her to be. The church needs to hear again her purpose, her mission and her calling so that she can continue to be corrected when she goes astray from her mission so that with a loving hand the reality of what is taking place is being joined with the idea of what she can become.

Words of Encouragement

Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. - 1 Thessalonians 5:22-24



Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. – Philippians 4:8


What are your thoughts? Sanctifying Thinking. To sanctify our thoughts means to make our thoughts line up with what is right before God. It means we must have holy thoughts. The scripture says avoid every kind of evil. This means that we must yield ourselves to God so that he can sanctify us in our entirety. My actions as well as my thoughts must line up to God.


To have sanctified thoughts means I must daily consecrate my thoughts to God. I don’t dwell on stinking thinking and instead I allow my thoughts to be set aside for God’s purpose. I set aside my agenda or what I want to dwell on in my thoughts so that God can have the control.


When the thoughts that would make me dwell in the wrong places tries to rise up, I am reminded to avoid all kinds of evil. The evil to avoid is allowing the enemy to feed us lies and us believing it. We need to ask God to help sanctify (make right) our thinking so that we can think the right thoughts and not dwell our thoughts on things that are not praiseworthy and excellent.


As we go to worship this week, let us go seeking a change in our thoughts. What are your thoughts? Are they thoughts on the negative, defeated ways or are they thoughts about the victory that is waiting for us? Lord help us to move from stinking thinking to righteous thinking. Help us to move from being shortsighted in our thinking to seeing the whole picture in our thoughts. Help by setting our thoughts aside for your purpose and your ways.

Inspiration for your Soul

THE STORY OF THE CROSS

Written by Jewel D. Williams

February 24, 2009

Before Adam and Eve, it was void, no light, no sky and no sea
That was before God said, “Let it be”


God had not yet created man,
Yet he had on his mind salvations plan.


He Knew Adam and Eve would take sins fall,
So his Son would have to become the way for all.


Through the history of time God continued to tell of his plan,
Of how he would use His Son to redeem man.


The prophets told he would send his Son; it was just as Isaiah said,
They told he would be born, suffer and be raised from the dead.


He would be rejected of men,
Yet still he is God’s only way of freedom from sin.

They would accuse him of blasphemy and say he would destroy the temple in three days,
They did not understand he told of his death, resurrection and his being the truth, and the way.


They held him in high regard as they laid palms before is feet,
But turned quickly to shouts of Crucify Him! Crucify Him! before Pilate’s seat.


Jesus stood before the priests and the elders, refusing to say one word in his defense,
It seems odd, I’m sure, but shortly it would all make sense.


They mocked him, cast lots for his clothes and placed a crown of thorns upon his head,
They really did not understand the King they mocked would surely rise from the dead.

So they beat him, with many lashes.
Not knowing by his stripes healing would be afforded to the masses.

They made him carry a cross to Golgotha’s hill,
Jesus was only doing His Father’s will.


His disciples had all fled, with Peter denying him for a time of three.
Jesus did not let this stop him from going to the cross for you and me.


Between two thieves his cross was set,
One of them was given a promise of paradise, which from Jesus he would get.


The nails pierced, the spear tore, out came blood and water, a cry that he had finished it all,
Then into his Father’s hand his spirit would be placed; was the words of his final call.

He died that very hour as the veil was torn from top to bottom revealing the holy place,
This symbol was to all that God opened to man a right to approach the holies of space.


It would have been sad had Jesus died, never to be seen again,
He told that in three days he would be raised and seen of men.


The time had come for the two Mary’s to go to the place where Jesus should be,
They wondered who would remove the stone, so Jesus they could see.

To their surprise no stone blocked the way,
The tomb, it was empty where Jesus lay.

The angel told them he was no longer dead,
For he had kept the promise he first said.


He was alive! He was the Risen King,
Oh Death! Oh Death! Where is your sting?


The King of King, the Lord of Host,
Offers salvation to all not, just most.


On God’s mind before the foundation of the world, was a way to save from sin,
Jesus offers to all that come life more abundantly, and a way to win.


Death could not keep Jesus in the grave,
He is the one who releases us; we are no longer sin’s slave.

Christ is risen today,
To show salvations way.

Because of the plan from God’s mind and heart, to Christ’s love on the cross,
Man can be free; and I no longer have to be lost.


Christ arose on that first Easter day,
He arose to be in our hearts, to stay.

The Week in Review

Psalm 133 - A Psalm of Harmony

Show Yourself Friendly Retreat (Part 4)

Question: So what happens when we begin to look more in line with the makeup of the triune God? Let’s look at the next point in this scripture. I first said that it is pleasant and wonderful for us to dwell together. This is because this is what is pleasing to God for when we do, we look like his children, like we belong to him. Now the scripture tells us what happens when we are in harmony, what it looks like. It tells us that to be unified or living in harmony is like precious oil.

Living in harmony is like…. precious Oil

…For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe…

Is fragrant - fragrant holy oil, was strongly perfumed and diffused its odors to all those that were standing near when it was poured on the head of Aaron. Specific directions were given for making the holy anointing oil. They could not simply use anything, they had to use that which God instructed them to us. This was to show the excellency of holiness of God. The spiced oil in the tabernacle was one that had to be welcomed because of its fragrant smell. This is a reminder for us that Christ's name is as ointment poured forth, and that our good names as Christians should be like precious ointment, because we belong to him. He first anointed us with the oil of his Holy Spirit so that you and I could be like sweet fragranced oil that is evident by all those around us. Others should “smell” our scent and find it pleasant.

“A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.” Ecclesiastes 7:1.

Is plentiful – The oil was so plentifully that it ran down the face even to the collar, or binding of Aaron’s garment. That is how we are to give of ourselves. We are to be willing to give abundantly of love, forgiveness, encouragement, and so forth. What comes from our mouths should be like the oil as it runs down the face of another and covers them with our blessings, not our curses.

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." – Luke 6:38

Is consecrated/holy - Aaron and his sons were to be set apart for the priest's office, with ceremony and seriousness. Our Lord Jesus is the great High Priest, called of God to be so; anointed with the Spirit, whence he is called Messiah, the Christ; clothed with glory and beauty; sanctified by his own blood; made perfect, or consecrated through sufferings, (Heb 2:10). Because of that:

“you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 2:5

All believers are spiritual priests, to offer spiritual sacrifices. We are washed in the blood of Christ, and so made to our God priests, (Re 1:5, 6). We are also then clothed with the beauty of holiness, and have received the anointing, (1 Jo 2:27) and the merit of Christ is applied to our souls. This consecration signifies the admission of a sinner into the spiritual priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (Ex 29:38-46). Aaron could not offer sacrifices unto God until he had been anointed and the proper procedures were carried out. You and I cannot be lively stones, priest for Christ until we allow all that would hinder us from being his to be removed. If we have any hatred in our hearts, any sin in us we must release it so that we can be sisters united in Christ, working together in the unity of the Spirit. Have you every thought about the fact that God sometimes allows us to go through these difficulties in relationships not so that someone else will change, but that we can become more like him? He uses these situations to sharpen us, and shape us more into the image of his son.

Is costly - This costly oil was precious and not to be used for any common thing. Holy love is, in the sight of God is of great price and it is precious. Christ’s love to mankind was part of the oil of gladness with which he was anointed above others. The ingredient’s that went into making the oil that was used to anoint Aaron was costly. Yet this was worth the cost because it was part of God’s plan. In order for you and I to be anointed as a holy people, Christ paid a great price. Yet God said it was worth it so that you and I can be in harmony with him and therefore in harmony with one another. Because this was such a great cost to Christ, God does not want us taking this lightly the opportunity we have to be united with him and with each other. That was part of the price he paid. He paid the price so that you and I could be reconciled to him and to one another.


Then the LORD said to Moses, "Take the following fine spices: 500 shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much (that is, 250 shekels) of fragrant cinnamon, 250 shekels of fragrant cane, 500 shekels of cassia—all according to the sanctuary shekel—and a hin of olive oil. 25 Make these into a sacred anointing oil, a fragrant blend, the work of a perfumer. It will be the sacred anointing oil. 26 Then use it to anoint the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the Testimony, the table and all its articles, the lampstand and its accessories, the altar of incense, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the basin with its stand. You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy. "Anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so they may serve me as priests. Say to the Israelites, 'This is to be my sacred anointing oil for the generations to come. Exodus 30: 22-31



Is Empowering - this oil was a composition made up by a divine direction; God appointed the ingredients and the quantities. This was not done by man but made holy by God. Therefore, we are told to love one another, the ingredient that makes us family, not by our doing but by the Grace and appointing of God. This is God’s grace working in us. They were not admitted (Aaron and his sons) to minister until there were anointed, set apart, consecrated, nor are our services acceptable to God without this holy love, if we don’t have it we are nothing.



If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing – 1 Corinthians 13:1-2



-------FINAL NOTES-------



Our unity with one another should be like precious oil poured upon the head. This can only happen when we have godly love one for another. It should pour forth in abundance. I heard once Sis. Cynthia James say a great test of your love is shown in how much you love your enemy? I add a step, how great your love is shown in how much you can love those that have hurt you, or mistreated you. Can you be like Samuel and say I will not sin against God by not praying for you.



Our unity or harmony with one another should be a sweet smell so that others around us will know the scent. The fragrance is “Holiness”. It should first be a sweet smell to God. My love should be plentiful and evident to those around me. It is consecrated to God for his holy purpose, which is to draw others to him. They will know we belong to him by how we love one another. We must remember a great cost was paid so that you and I can have fellowship with each other, and we cannot take this lightly. We are empowered to love by the Holy Spirit. Nothing we do matters without the love of God first for him and then for each other.

The Week in Review

THE FLOWER OF LIFE

The rose, it’s color is deep red,
like the color of the blood Jesus shed.

It’s so beautiful to see,
It’s fragrance so delightful to the senses.

Jesus was the beauty,
the good sent to us,that delight for the mind and soul.


The rose, in its beauty has thorns of pain,
but Jesus took away that pain,when he gave up his life.

Jesus is the flower of life.
Like a small seed,

our faith can be planted into the heart to grow,
We must love and cherish all his works,

this is the sun and the water that makes it grow.
Like the first blossom of spring,

our awareness opens up to the Lord,
the beginning of a new season in Christ.

We must be thankful, for the blood he shed.
He shed it for me, and he shed it for you.

Jesus is the life, for without him,
there is no beauty, no happiness,
no hope of going on.


Like the flower, we must give time to grow,
we must let ourselves grow in grace,
with the Lord as our teacher.

The rose, so red,
like the color of the blood Jesus shed,

and in it’s beauty,
it could not be,
if it were not for the grace of God.