Defeating Giants

"Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?” Can you sense young David's indignation? This shepherd boy  believed the covenant promise that God made with Abraham and was appalled that God's people were cowering in fear of their enemies when they had the living God on their side.

But David took God at His word. And he understood that to fight against God's people is to fight against God himself.  Therefore, he was able to stand fearless, unmovable, unwavering and unshaken knowing that God was for him. His confidence was not in himself but in God. He saw more power in the ability of his God to deliver him than the giant to destroy him.

How about you? What Philistines are you facing? What giant has rendered you defeated? You too are a child of the covenant. A child of promise. You too should walk with confident assurance that your God goes before you and He will deliver your enemies into your hand.

Today God wants you to stand before your giant and declare in spite of what you are going through, in spite of the circumstances however bleak they appear -- you believe that God is for you because of what Jesus has done for you.

You are more than a conqueror and have victory over every giant in your life. You have Jehovah Sabaoth the Lord of Hosts on your side. The God of Angel armies. He is the one who fights for you. So like David you too can declare with confidence .. the battle belongs to the Lord. God will give you the victory.

by Cecilia Trent

The Goodness of The Lord

Whatever you are going through today look in the mirror and take heart -- You are not the same today as you were when you were found by Jesus. You have seen the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!  The word of God declares that One day in His courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. Nothing that this world has to offer compares to the riches that we have in Him! Hold on to the miracles that God has done in you. He is faithful to complete the work that He began in you. (Philippians 1:6). He never leaves things undone. Rejoice in what He has done already and has yet to do. To God be the glory now and forever. Amen!

Why?

In Acts 12 we read facing persecution for the gospel, James was Martyred but Peter was miraculously set free from prison.  Why did God deliver Peter but allowed Herod to kill James? Why is life so full of hardships, difficulties, and sorrow? Why does God allow His people to suffer?

The truth is that we don’t always understand the reason why God permits suffering.  He doesn’t always give us answers to those “whys.” But when we are faced with what we don’t know, we must hold fast to what we do know. And what do we know?  We know that God is sovereign! Even when things don’t makes sense like trying to wrap our minds around why James died and why Peter was set free.  Yet the lesson in both circumstances is that God is still on the throne, and that nothing happens without His permission. We know that all things are working together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. We know that God’s thoughts towards us are good, not evil, and we know that He is working out an eternal plan for our lives even in the suffering. Our pain is never wasted. He will turn it around for His glory if we allow Him to.

So when pain  or trauma comes and we have no answers for why we are suffering, we can hold tightly to the knowledge that ‘the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18.) Our sovereign God is working out an eternal purpose though our circumstances.  We don’t need to know why. We just need to know Jesus.

by Cecilia Trent

The Author of Peace

Things had gotten out of hand in the church at Corinth. They abused the gift of tongues by uttering tongues with no interpretation. They interrupted one another. Sometimes they all spoke in tongues at the same time. Paul rebuked them for conducting their services without order, saying, “Look, God isn’t the author of confusion”

All you have to do is look at the universe to see that God is a God of order. And in the descriptions we have of heaven, we can see the worship there is performed in an orderly fashion. So shouldn’t worship be orderly in the church?

God is capable of bringing order out of chaos, even the chaos we create in our personal lives.

God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. Confusion, disorder, and strife fill our lives when we insist on doing our own thing. But when we follow the rules God established for us in His Word – rules which tells us how we ought to live – then God’s peace begins to fill our hearts.  Instead, of living disorderly lives, we can then live calm, productive, loving lives.

Disorder can make us impatient and touchy. But when God’s peace begins to reign in your heart, God is able to help you respond to others in love, in forgiveness, and in peace, and thus, maintaining peace with those around you. It’s your choice – you can live in confusion or chaos, or you can live a life marked by peace.

Father, we thank You that we have received Your peace – a peace

That passes human understanding.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

by Pastor Chuck Smith 

The Cleansing Power of The Word

 Jesus prayed "Father sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth." John 17:17

When you turn on the television, radio, go to the mall, the beach -- basically everywhere you go -- seductions and enticements try to draw you after the things God says are impure. That's why Jesus prayed to the Father for Him to  sanctify us with the truth of His word. 

We need to read the word daily to sanctify ourselves, to set us apart from the world to cleanse us from the influence and defilement from the world.

Let God cleanse you from all the junk that you have been exposed to. Jesus said in John 15:3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." It is His word that cleanses away the filth that we have been exposed to each day.

Read the word and be cleansed daily. Like Daniel it will help us to purpose in our hearts not to defile ourselves. (Daniel 1:8), help us walk in God's will for our life, and help us to..."Let our light so shine before men that they can see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven." (Mathew 5:16) Amen!

Don't Jump Ship

We often think of Paul the Apostle as a pillar of strength, boldness, perseverance, and unshakable faith. And yes, he was all those things. But he was also a mere man, and like the rest of us--  he had moments when he was weak, felt discouraged and needed to be exhorted, and strengthened to stay the course. And God was faithful to meet the beloved Apostle at his point of need. “Do not be afraid…and do no not keep silent…for I am with you”….. Jesus said to Paul in a vision during one of these moments in Acts 18, when he was being accused of blasphemy for preaching the gospel to his countrymen. 

On another occasion Jesus stood with Paul in prison and gave him the promise that Paul would be His witness in Rome (Acts 23:11).  So when He was caught up in a terrible storm with over 200 fellow prisoners and Roman soldiers on a ship headed to Rome, no matter how bleak or tempestuous the storm -- he never lost hope but rather encouraged the others, and gave them hope. He fully trusted that God would keep His promise. While the other men wanted to abandon ship to save themselves Paul told them that  – “ The God  whom I belong and serve” -- had told him that they would all arrive safely to Rome but added -- ”Unless you stay on the ship, you cannot be saved.” (Acts 27:31)  Paul assured them that God would not abandon them in their time of need but they had to stay on the boat until they got close to land and could swim safely to shore. They couldn’t give up. 

You may have started the voyage with smooth sailing but then conditions turned suddenly and you are caught up in a raging storm wondering if you should jump ship. Our journey in this life towards our eternal home is not easy. There will be events and unexpected circumstances that will disappoint us and we will face obstacles, hardships and all sorts of peril that will cause us to want to lose hope and want to give up. The truth is that we are not promised smooth sailing. We are actually promised certain hardship and peril, but never lose sight that with it we also have the assurance that we can take refuge and safety in Jesus who will never leave us or forsake us as He helps us reach the shore. 

Acts 24 tells us that all on board made it safely to land. This was the fulfillment of what God had promised – not one was lost! Some were strong enough to swim, some floated on planks and broken pieces of the ship, but they all made it safely. Like these men, you may not be strong enough to swim and may have to cling to broken pieces as you make it to shore, but Jesus has promised you that you will indeed make it to shore.  So whatever kind of storm life may present you – like Paul, let nothing shake your faith.  And remember that it is better to stay on the boat with Jesus than to weather the storm without Him!

bu Cecilia Trent