Preparing for the Storm Through Fasting

Preparing for the Storm Through Fasting

A day that will live in infamy. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said something very close to this after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. Another day that lives in infamy is the one that we remember today, Good Friday. A funny name for a day that doesn’t seem so good on the surface, we read the account in scripture of Jesus being betrayed, arrested, mocked, beaten, harassed, and ultimately executed by the state at the behest of the people (heavily influenced by the Jewish rulers). That doesn’t seem very good. However, the goodness is in the plan of God, that he used the blood of Jesus that was shed that day to cleanse the sins of the world.

Holding Strong

Holding Strong

Jesus tells us that in this world, we will have tribulation.  The NIV version translates “tribulation” as “trouble”, but it is more than that.  Tribulation is defined as: afflictions, severe trials, or deep suffering, often used to describe overwhelming distress or persecution.  Tribulation doesn’t sound like a pleasant picture, and it is not.  But Jesus also tells us the words he spoke, recorded in the Bible, are to give us peace. 

With Everything Inside of Me

With Everything Inside of Me

f we’re honest, we like being in control.

It can look different in each of us. You like having a plan, knowing what’s next; or maybe it’s feeling like if you just try hard enough, do everything right, pray just the right words, you can manage the outcome. But surrendering to God means releasing our illusion of control.

Learning Before Serving

Learning Before Serving

The historic fact of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is well verified, but it means little unless it is personally experienced. A dynamic personal encounter with the risen Christ is key. But this personal encounter must be grounded in training. Until we “go to school” with Jesus, and are thoroughly taught truth by Him, we are not ready to serve Him.

God of Mercy. God of Justice

God of Mercy. God of Justice

Each person is responsible for their own actions.  Parents are not held responsible by God for the sins of their children, and children are not held responsible by God for the sins of their parents.  Each person is responsible for their own behavior.  In the same way, you don’t get credit for your parents good behavior if you do bad.  Each person is responsible for their own sin and will be judged accordingly.

Spiritual Adultery

Spiritual Adultery

The fact that God must punish Israel for her spiritual adultery is not surprising.  Israel is only getting what they deserve.  What is surprising is that God is going to restore Israel.  Not because Israel deserves it now any more than it deserved it when God first cleaned her up and made her His bride.  God is doing it because God is faithful to His Covenant promises. 

God’s Priest in Babylon

God’s Priest in Babylon

Ezekiel’s description sounds like something in a science fiction movie- 1:27-28 says: “ I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.  Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him

Jehu is Different

Jehu is Different

In Second Kings 9:22 Joram asks Jehu if he has come in peace.  Jehu responds, “How can there be peace as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?”  Jehu is clearly communicating that peace does not come between God and evil.  Our application should be a bit cautious, but clear.