Tag: Perseverance

“Letting Go of Our Fear”

Date: 10-07-14

Text: — Numbers 11:11 — So Moses said to the Lord, “Why have You afflicted Your servant?…” [NKJV]

The Big Idea: True faith holds by the Lord’s faithfulness.

My Thoughts: 

This morning’s Heartwork Devotion is on “Letting go of Guilt,” and I believe a cousin to this guilt is fear. Interestingly enough,  I was also reading Charles Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening Devotion this morning and found it very fitting for me personally, and perhaps you will, too. The message this Sunday is from James 2:14-26 on having an active, ‘Shema’ Faith. I find that Spurgeon’s words, noted below, address both this Sunday’s message and this morning’s Heartwork devotion. Perhaps you will be encouraged as I am by this….

Spurgeon’s Thoughts: 

“Our heavenly Father sends us frequent troubles to try our faith. If our faith be worth anything, it will stand the test. Gilt is afraid of fire, but gold is not: the paste gem dreads to be touched by the diamond, but the true jewel fears no test. It is a poor faith which can only trust God when friends are true, the body full of health, and the business profitable; but that is true faith which holds by the Lord’s faithfulness when friends are gone, when the body is sick, when spirits are depressed, and the light of our Father’s countenance is hidden. A faith which can say, in the direst trouble, ‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him,’ is heaven-born faith. The Lord afflicts His servants to glorify Himself, for He is greatly glorified in the graces of His people, which are His own handiwork. When ‘tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope,’ the Lord is honoured by these growing virtues.

“We should never know the music of the harp if the strings were left untouched; nor enjoy the juice of the grape if it were not trodden in the winepress; nor discover the sweet perfume of cinnamon if it were not pressed and beaten; nor feel the warmth of fire if the coals were not utterly consumed. The wisdom and power of the great Workman are discovered by the trials through which His vessels of mercy are permitted to pass.

“Present afflictions tend also to heighten future joy. There must be shades in the picture to bring out the beauty of the lights. Could we be so supremely blessed in heaven, if we had not known the curse of sin and the sorrow of earth? Will not peace be sweeter after conflict, and rest more welcome after toil? Will not the recollection of past sufferings enhance the bliss of the glorified? There are many other comfortable answers to the question with which we opened our brief meditation, let us muse upon it all day long.”

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

— Psalms 116:7 (NIV84)

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls

— Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV84)

Heavenly Father, by the shed blood of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ,  and through His power I ask You to remove the pain, shame and guilt from my Life, whether I deserve any or not. In Your Grace and Mercy blot out the stain of my transgressions and empower me by Your Spirit to walk in the ‘now’ in freedom and Love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“Easy or Hard”

Date: 9-28-14

Text: James 3:17-18 —  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. [NIV84]

The Big Idea: The harvest is a little ways away….

My Thoughts: 

When ordering eggs we are asked if we want them over easy or hard  boiled or something in between; sometimes this is how we “order” wisdom…. But many people have to learn the hard way.

Lifestyle worshipers, have you been enrolled into the University of Hard Knocks? At the risk of sounding clichéd, is it making you bitter or better? For me, I would rather learn from someone else’s mistakes and avoid the proverbial potholes of life; however, I have found, in the Lord’s mercy, that learning the hard way drives the lesson home, penetrating my hardened jaded heart—softening it for the Master’s use. Have you found this to be the case, too? My grades, though improving, are pretty average at UHK. How about yours? I just have to remember the harvest is a little ways away….

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

— Hebrews 12:11 (NIV84)

Then He said to them all: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

— Luke 9:23 (NIV84)

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.

— Hebrews 5:8 (NIV84)

Lord Jesus Christ, forgive me for shunning the cross where Wisdom is fully comprehended. You embraced the cross for me and I should do no less as I follow in Your steps. Lead me in the paths of Righteousness for Your Name’s sake. In Your Name, Amen.

Pastor Mike

“Trained By the Pain”

Date: 9-14-14

Text: James 1:12  Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.  [NIV84]

The Big Idea: When we are trained by the pain, we receive the crown of life.

My Thoughts: 

One reason we can persevere under the trials (and these are more than slivers; they are crosses), is because of the Joy we have knowing there is a purpose in them. The purposes of a particular trial may have many facets, but one facet is becoming more like Jesus. Because of the Joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross and scorned its shame and is now seated at the right Hand of the Majesty on High. He is no longer wearing a crown of thorns, but He is now wearing the crown of the King of kings! And when we, too, are trained by the pain, we receive a crown, the crown of life.

Lifestyle worshipers, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23 NIV84).“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18 NASB 95). “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” (2 Cor. 4:8-10 NIV 84). “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor. 4:16-18 NIV 84).

Be encouraged to be trained by the pain. Your thoughts….

Scriptures to Renew Your Thoughts

A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. 

— Luke 6:40 (NIV84)

Heavenly Father, as You teach me to see through the current trial, let the Joy of Your Spirit flood my soul. Guard my heart and my mind with the Peace that passes all understanding: The Lord Jesus Christ, my Prince of Peace. I bless You, in Your Son’s Name Amen.

Pastor Mike