Is It Well With Your Soul?

The question for today is, “Is it well with your soul?” If we look at the world around us and at our own circumstances, we’ll be stressed, depressed and distressed. However, our joy is in the object of our joy… our joy is in the Lord. As Pete’s wife Suzan often said, Joy is not the absence of pain; joy is the presence of the Lord. Joy is a deliberate choice to position our heart inside of God’s heart. Therefore, Philippians 4:4 says, Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. Within the joy of the Lord, although the storm rocks our boat and the waves crash around us, it is well… it is well with our soul.

Psalm 73 is a Psalm of Asaph, one of David’s chief choir directors. David himself was a musician. Part of rejoicing is to lift up our voices as a choir in harmony unto the Lord as we “tune our hearts to sing thy praise.”

According to Psalm 73:
1. “TRULY God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2. But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3. For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4. For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5. They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12. Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13. Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14. For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15. If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16. When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17. Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18. Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19. How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20. As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21. Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22. So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23. Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26. My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27. For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28. But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.”

It’s easy to stumble when we look at the world around us. The Psalmist began this psalm with a lamentation. It seems that the world around us is full of chaos, confusion, and darkness. Why would God allow the darkness? From the perspective of our fallen sin nature, God will appear like an unkind friend… an unnatural Father and an unrighteousness judge…but he is not. God is not like the injustice and the unrighteousness of this world. If we look around us we’ll be stressed, if we look at ourselves, we’ll be depressed, if we look at others, we’ll be distressed, but if we look at the Lord our God through Christ’s eyes behind our eyes, we’ll be blessed.

In verse 2 the Psalmist looks at the battle inside his own soul. The Apostle Paul said that I buffet my body to bring it under control. The spiritual battle is first a battle for our own soul… for our own hearts and minds. In 2 Peter, there are seven characteristics to add to our faith to make our calling and election sure. Therefore, add to your faith virtue (superior excelling excellence), and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance (self control), and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly love, and to brotherly love, charity (the unconditional love of God), for if these things be in you and abound you shall be fruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. If you give your utmost diligence to these things to make your calling and election sure, you shall never fall.

Men begin to stumble when they focus on the selfish motives of their sinful flesh. According to verse three of this Psalm, when Asaph looked through eyes of envy and covetousness at the seeming prosperity of the wicked, he began to lose his joy. The evil seem to be better off than those who profess the Lord’s righteousness. The foolish who prosper in the riches of this world wear their pride like a golden chain. They look for opportunities to exert their power over the righteous. They revel in their pride and in their power over their innocent victims. The ungodly even dare to speak to God as if they are powerful and God is not.

The “political correctness” In our culture was evident when Pete recently spoke with his own granddaughter. With on-line learning during the Corona virus social distancing mandate, one student in Pete’s granddaughter’s class was not allowed to show his face in the video call since he had an American flag on his wall.

God’s holiness starts with separation. Holy means to separate from the darkness of this fallen world according to the purpose for which God has called us.

In Psalm 73, the Psalmist laments about the oppressiveness of the wicked and the darkness of this fallen world. However there is an inflection point, a point of repentance… of turning around. In verse 17, the Psalmist said, when I went into the sanctuary, into the house of the Lord, then I understood their end. He shifted his focus from the darkness of the world into the light of the sanctuary where God dwells. The sanctuary is the place where God is welcome to help himself to the lives of his people. According to 1 Corinthians 6, Paul wrote by God’s inspiration, “Know ye not that ye (collectively) are the body of Christ, the temple, which is the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit?

In the sanctuary, God revealed the end of the destruction of the evil that permeates this world of darkness. According to verse 18, surely he has set their feet on slippery places. When the blind lead the blind, they both fall in the ditch.

God allows the prosperity of the worldly to allow them to fall in their own pride and conceit. The outcome of the ungodly will come to naught. Therefore the Psalmist concludes that nevertheless God has taken hold of our right hand. The right hand is the hand of blessing. When confronted by the darkness of this world, our responsibility is our response to His ability. Our responsibility is to walk in the light as he is in the light.

The Lord is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Beside you Lord, I desire nothing on earth. As for me, in the nearness of my heart unto thee is my good. I have made the Lord my refuge so that I can tell of thy goodness to all the earth.

Our calling isn’t to condemn the unjust but that God through his mercy and grace would turn their hearts from the darkness of this world and unto the glorious light of the gospel of truth. Our calling not to be overcome by evil but to overcome evil with good. Our Lord Jesus Christ came not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.

Despite the darkness of this fallen world, our joy is in the Lord and our hope is in the redemption of our vile bodies, His purchased possession, at His return. Therefore, let your light so shine among men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.

Whom have I in heaven but you Lord? …. our flesh and our heart will fail, but our portion is in you alone… for in Thee and in Thee alone, it is well with our soul…

…that we may ever live to the praise of the glory of Thy grace!

Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Heavily Defended Territory

Many Biblical historians say that the church at Colosse was founded by Epaphras. Paul wrote to this church because Epaphras reported that false teachers were infiltrating the church saying that other laws needed to be added to the truth of the gospel of the grace of God. According to Colossians 2:8, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

We’re called alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ to minister to one another with words of comfort, encouragement, and edification through the power and love of the Holy Spirit.

In Colossians 1:9-12 Paul wrote by God’s inspiration:
9. For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10. That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”

Paul prayed for their knowledge of God’s will and that they would be filled with God’s wisdom and spiritual understanding. He specifically asked for spiritual knowledge, not worldly knowledge. To know spiritual understanding means that we must first be born again of God’s spirit. Then we can see the world from God’s perspective. Only then can we see according to the spirit with Christ’s eyes behind our eyes.

Pastor Eugene H. Peterson said, “the kingdom of self is heavily defended territory.” However, when we give up our so-called rights, forsake our pride, and surrender our will to God’s will, then He will work in us and through us to will and to do of His good pleasure. He will give us the desires of our heart when we intentionally delight ourselves also in the Lord… when we actively align our desires with His desires.

Oswald Chambers prayed in his devotional My Utmost for his Highest, “Lord, Even if I am called to offer my own self in sacrifice and service to your faith, I will be joyful and rejoice. If your plan for me is to be a doormat underfoot so that others can trample on, then thank you Lord for this calling.” Jesus Christ himself has taught us to know how to be abased. Are you willing to seek not to be ministered to but to minister? He has called us to forsake our so-called earthly dignity in order to give up the over-desires of our sinful flesh. Until we empty ourselves of ourselves then he cannot fill us with his will and the desire of His heart.

Mother Teresa said, “God works best with nothing.” In order to trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not unto our own understanding, we must approach his throne of grace with empty hands. Then the Holy Spirit can fill us and will teach us His wisdom.

Regardless of the trials and tribulations of this world, God said, in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness..”

To love God above all is the first and great commandment. Jesus said in The Sermon on the Mount, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all these other things shall be added unto you.” We cannot obey the second command, to love our neighbor as ourselves, until we obey the first command to love God above all.

The best way to love your children is to love your wife. The best way to love your wife is to love God above all. Loving thy neighbor as thyself depends on Loving God first. Then we can serve others with Christ’s heart behind our heart. Then we can understand Jesus’ words of wisdom: “In that thou has done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

Warren Wiersbe said Christian service is a result of Christian devotion. God must make the worker before he can assign the work. Jesus doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called.

As Christians, our responsibility is our response to His ability. Therefore meditate on these things, (the word of God), commit thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting may appear unto all. As we meditate on His word, he will weave into our hearts the fabric of his will. The wisdom and understanding of the Lord will be manifest in our lives when we make his will our will and his purpose our purpose.

According to 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

We’re called from the darkness of this world to declare the excellency of God’s grace, mercy, and peace….for he alone is worthy to be praised. The purpose of his calling is that we should be to the praise of the glory of His grace… for He alone is worth of all glory and honor and praise.

He gave us his power so that we could attain patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. The patience is in abiding with and within our Lord Jesus Christ. In John 15: 5 Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

The devil attacks men of God so that they will forget the reason for their calling. To make it as God’s man, we must spend time in His presence and in His word. To hunger and thirst after righteousness is an acquired taste. According to proverbs, taste and see that the Lord is good. The prophet said, I found thy words and I did eat them. And they became unto me the joy and rejoicing of my soul. When we deliberately delight ourselves in the Lord, making his desire our desire and his delight our delight, then he will give us the desires of our hearts.

The warfare is not against sin. The battlefield is for hearts and minds. It begins in our own hearts. The spiritual battle is the battle to turn our natural mind into the super-natural mind of Christ. A man of God’s heart’s desire is to spend the rest of his life learning to become just like Jesus. It’s not done easily. It’s the result of deliberately choosing the right moral choices according to His word. The prophet Isaiah said, “as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and watereth the earth and maketh it bring forth and bud, so shall my word be that proceedeth out fo my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing where unto I sent it.”

Jesus said, “If my word abides in you and you abide in me, you shall bear much fruit.” According to Psalm 1, “blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the. Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree that is planted by the rivers of (living) waters. His leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

We must give up the rights to ourselves in order to obey his command… trust in the. Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and men….

… That we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Who Is My Neighbor?

What’s on your heart? According to Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” When God called Pastor Pete to minister His Word and to pastor God’s flock, God told him, “Preach the word and let the chips fall where they may.”

Our calling is to love God’s people with with the love of God. This is not a worldly kind of love. This is God’s unconditional love according to the Holy Spirit that dwells in us. God honors his word in us when we’re obedient to his calling according to his word of truth.

The world did not see the global pandemic coming. Our foresight in the year 2020 was not 20-20. However this is all part of God’s plan. From God’s perspective, the Corona Virus was not a pandemic. Instead it was part of His Plan-Demic. Regardless of the panic, pandemonium and pandemics of this world, our Christian calling is to be faithful to the calling to which we have been called…to be faithful to his word. As Oswald Chambers said, “When the crisis comes, and courage is required, God expects his men to have such confidence in him, that they will be the reliable ones.”

When our life is over and our time on earth is done, the question will be, “were you faithful to His word?” Despite the cares of this world, Peter said, “cast all your cares upon Him, for He careth for you.”

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a message of encouragement. God himself is the God of all comfort. According to Luke 10 beginning in verse 25:

25. And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26. He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27. And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30. And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37. And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.”

The lawyer came to Jesus with the right question but with the wrong motive. The right question is “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” The lawyer’s second question revealed his wrong motive, “Who is my neighbor?”

Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. We’re called to love our neighbors as ourselves regardless of whether we agree or disagree with their “religious beliefs.” When people are ignorant of the truth of the Word of God, they cannot follow the will of God. The people of this world are not our enemy. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual wickedness from on high. The battle is for the hearts and minds of those whom God has called. As sowers of the seed of God’s word, he’s called us to sow the seed regardless of the ground on which it falls. The types of ground in the parable of the sower represent the receptiveness of the hearts of men.

A good neighbor shows mercy and compassion on those who are beaten down and wounded by the cares of this world. Our responsibility is to sow the seed of the word of God and to pray for the hearts of those upon which the word falls.

The lawyer’s first question was “what must I do to inherit eternal life.” Jesus answered this question with another question, “you’re a lawyer who studied the law of God. How do you read the law?” The lawyer answered, “Thou shalt love the lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy mind. And the second is like unto it, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.” Jesus said, “That’s the right answer. Do these things and you shall live.”

The lawyer’s second question was “who is my neighbor?” This question revealed that he had the wrong motive. The lawyer thought that a “neighbor” referred to the people that were like him. He thought that he and others like him could justify themselves by their own self-goodness.

The parable of the Good Samaritan, is Jesus’ illustration to answer the lawyer’s question, “who is my neighbor.” The Jews hated the Samaritans. They considered the Samaritans half-breeds who had interbred with pagan heathens. In contrast, the lawyer thought that he was righteous for keeping the Old Testament law. He thought that he was required to keep himself pure by keeping his distance from Samaritans and other non-Jews. In every culture there are ingrained prejudices. The culture indoctrinates the so-called “politically correct” to hate what the culture identifies as “enemies.” The lawyer, a politically correct proud Jew, thought that Samaritans were enemies. He could not conceive of a hated Samaritan as his neighbor.

In this parable, a man was on the road descending from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the highway, he was attacked by robbers who stripped him of his worldly possessions, and left him for dead.

A priest and a Levite, although they were “professional clergy,” called to minister to God’s people, had avoided the dying man. They both “passed by on the other side of the road, going out of their way to keep their distance.

The Samaritan when he passed by felt compassion for the man who had been robbed and left for dead. The Samaritan poured ointment on the beaten man’s wounds, bandaged him, put him on his beast of burden, and took him to an inn. He gave the innkeeper enough money to attend to his wounds and his medical needs. He said, whatever it costs to take care of him, I will repay you.

God calls us to challenge our preconceptions. We’re challenged every day to pray for our so-called enemies. When we receive the power of the Holy Spirit, we understand what it means to forgive the unforgivable and to love the unloveable. For we ourselves were unforgivable and unloveable and judged guilty before Jesus Christ intervened on our behalf. Like Jesus died for our sins, we must crucify our prejudices and hatred of those we consider our enemies. We have to die to self and our own so-called self righteousness in order to live for our Lord Jesus Christ and manifest His righteous of Christ in us.

Jesus had said, if my word abides in you and you abide in me, then you shall bear much fruit. The root word for the word neighbor is “nigh” or “near.” To be a good neighbor to others, we must first position our hearts in close proximity with our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus had said, “In that ye have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” When we position our hearts inside of God’s will, then God will work in you to will and to do of His good pleasure. Then when we intercede for others, God can intervene through His son, for there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

Only Jesus Christ can balance grace and truth. Jesus Christ holds perfect justice and perfect mercy side by side. According to 2 Timothy we’re called to gently correct those who have been called to the knowledge of the truth. We’re to have compassion on those who are taken captive by the devil and his worldly doctrines against their will. Pete’s wife Suzan taught him this truth as one of her life mottos — “I’d rather be loving than right.” She understood that according to 1 Peter 4:8, Love covers a multitude of sins.

Jesus said love your enemies. He said blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. We’ve been called to a higher standard, to die to self in order to live for him. The Apostle Paul said, be not drunk with wine, but be ye filled with the Holy Spirit. When we show God’s love, compassion and mercy to our neighbors whom God has placed in our close proximity, then it is Christ’s heart behind our heart, his compassion behind our compassion, and his mercy behind our mercy. When we deliver God’s compassion, love and mercy to a neighbor dead in trespasses and sins, then we also will be good Samaritans. As Jesus said to the lawyer, “go and do thou likewise….”

That we may live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

God’s Play Book

God is not the author of confusion, for where there is strife and contention there is confusion and every evil work. Despite the divisions and factions of this world, Christian believers have been called to the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Small Christian fellowship groups are proliferating during this time of social distancing. Jesus himself rarely ministered to large assemblies. He chose twelve apostles. Our Lord also had an inner circle of three. We become like the ones with whom we choose to associate. The question is, “who are your twelve and who are your three?” Influencers 4M (four men) groups are modeled after Jesus’ example of four men — disciples following in the footsteps of their Lord.

Phil’s Hanlen’s organization Ambassadors and Embassies is dedicated to organizing trips to Israel to bless Israeli soldiers and support Israeli citizens, our faithful allies. He has taken to heart God’s promise to Abraham that those who bless Israel, God will bless. Phil is also a firefighter and a husband and father. He has been a faithful follower of Christ through Influencers ministry to men fellowships for the last ten years.

There are five tenets of influencers: Jesus is Lord of our lives. The Bible is our sole authority of faith and practice. We are men of prayer. We link together with likeminded believers. We give it away.

God is always faithful, always present, and always good. Our priority during times of crisis is to remain close to our Lord Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:12- 15, Even though I have not yet attained the out-resurrection from among the dead… “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended (attained): but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”

Phil listened to a message in October of last year that changed his life. He realized that God must be calling him in a new direction. He continued to serve at Mariners church as an elder. Then when the governor of California issued a social distancing order due to the Corona virus, Phil realized that God had warned him of the coming pandemic.

Phil’s compassion for humanity was challenged when the riots hit his city last month. A few weeks later, his house was burglarized by a meth addict. Phil had to direct the police to the burglar. He is now caught up in the legal system as a material witness and victim of this crime.

A few weeks ago, Phil contracted the corona virus. He was in quarantine for two weeks and is thankful for his complete recovery. Throughout these recent ordeals, Phil has experienced God’s hand of healing and deliverance.

The devil’s weapon of choice is temptation. He’s ramping up his efforts to make us angry at the situations around us. Proverbs 29 says a fool gives full vent to his rage, but Romans 12 says, vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the Lord.

Proverbs 28 says, whoever has a hardened heart will fall into calamity. But thanks to Jesus’ sacrifice for sin on our behalf, we can choose not to be slaves to sin. According to 2 Corinthians 3:18., “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory (of the flesh) to glory (of the spirit,) even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

As individuals and as nations, God either allows us to voluntarily fall on our knees in prayer, or he will allow trials and tribulations to bring us to our knees. When we seek his face, when we obey the first and great command, to love God above all, we will through his power conquer the darkness of this world.

Ephesians 6:10-13 says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

We are called to peace through our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

According to Matthew 5, Jesus said, “bessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God”
The apostle Paul encouraged believers to endeavor to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.

The world and the followers of the world’s doctrines are described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5:
1. THIS know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Despite the brokenness of this world, 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

When the crisis comes, and courage is required, God expects his men to have such confidence in him that they will be the reliable ones. Our confidence is not in our own power but in the power of his mighty hand.

According to Psalm 91:
1. HE that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
3. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
4. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
5. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;”

In times of crisis, our prayer is, “Lord, where do you want me to be? Here am I Lord, send me.” When the storms of life arise, the question is not, “Are you in the boat?” Rather, the question is, “Whose boat are you in?” Jesus said to his disciples, “Get in the boat. We’re going over to the other side.” In the midst of the storm our prayer isn’t “deliver me from the storm.” In stead our prayer is, “Lord, deliver me through the storm.”

In John 16:33 Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation. But be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.”

Christ’s followers need the zeal of a rescuerer, the heart of a teacher, and the attitude of a servant. As Christians, God has given us his Holy Spirit: Christ in you the hope of glory. When we walk by faith, we obey his command — put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s his heart behind our heart and his zeal behind our zeal to will and to do of his good pleasure.

The good news of the gospel message is that even though we inherited our sin nature from Adam, and the wages of sin is death, God sending his son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

For no one can lay any foundation other than that which has been laid in Jesus Christ. The gospel message of salvation is in Romans 10:9-10: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

God’s play book is a book of promises. Acceptance of His promises is by obedience according to His word. The choice is either truth or consequences. Jesus said, “treasure treasures in heaven instead of treasures upon earth.” The apostle Paul said to set our affections on things above.

As we look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, our prayer is, “Lord how can I serve you? Direct me into your will as I position myself in close proximity with you my Lord. I count myself not to have taken hold of all of your promises, but this one thing I do — I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in. Christ Jesus. That I may live for your honor and glory…. to the praise of the glory of thy grace!”

Your brother in Christ,
Michael