God is an Unmovable Rock!

Immovable: Not capable of moving or being moved

Let's focus on the rock of Gibraltar for a minute. Normally people look at it as a symbol of strength and power, but today we want to look at it as an immovable object - just as Jesus is our majestic rock of Gibraltar - our salvation, our love, power, and strength. He's immovable. The devil might try this thing or that thing, but if we are anchored in the immovable rock, he can't shake our foundation.

I know that you all have read  about the three Hebrew boys, but let me remind you of the story. Those three boys took a stand and were immovable. Daniel 3:10 tells us that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made an image of gold. He also made a decree that every man that shall hear the sound of all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image (verse 11) and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. Pretty serious, right? This might be enough to shake some people's foundations, but not those of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, for they were anchored in the solid rock.

When the music played, the three Hebrew boys did not worship the golden image. When this was told to the king, he became furious and asked them, "is it true that ye did not serve my gods, nor worship the golden image that I set up?" The king also asked, "who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" In Daniel 3:17-18, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego told the king, "we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."

When he heard this, the king commanded that the boys be cast into the fiery furnace. As he watched, the king was astounded and rose up in haste and spake, "did not we cast three into the midst of the fire?" The king's men answered, "true, O king." The king responded saying, "lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God."

How awesome is our God? It's He that pushes us out, but it's also He that's right there to pick us up before we ever hit the ground - especially when He sees that His children are immovable for His name sake. Remember my friends, He's in the midst of our fiery furnace with us... oh how we need to take a stand for the rock.

With all that's said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Don't "Passover" The Importance Of Easter!

This Sunday is Passover - some folks call it Easter; others might call it Resurrection Sunday, but today we're going to use the word Passover. I thank God for Passover, for it was on that day and what He did on that cross that makes it possible for us to live spiritual and have the victory.

Jesus was an amazing man in the natural - He had such a wonderful attitude - even while hanging on the cross. I'm pretty sure that His attitude was MUCH different from what ours would have been if we had been in the same situation. It was even different from the people that were hanging around the cross on that day. I want to share Jesus's attitude, because it’s the one we must have as we carry our financial, emotional and career-related crosses today.

On that fateful day, there were hours of light and hours of darkness. While Jesus was hanging on the cross during the hours of light, He was forgiving as the Bible tells us in Luke 23:34-35, "Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots." When we are walking in our hours (or days) of light, that's what we should be doing - Forgiving. If some of us are being honest with ourselves, we would admit that although the light is shining on us, both naturally and spiritual, we are still not forgiving. Let’s learn to forgive people. Jesus did it and He was hanging on the cross with nails in His hands and nails in His feet. You and I aren't dealing with even half of that!

As we continue to read through the 23rd book of Luke, we find the second thing that Jesus did in verse 43, "And Jesus said unto him, Verily (or truly) I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise." In other words, Jesus told the thief that He was taking him (the thief) with Him (Jesus) to paradise. In Jesus' hours of light, He spoke the truth - are we speaking the truth? Are we forgiving our enemies? The people around the cross were sinning against the Lord even as He was dying for them... and us. Not only was He forgiving and speaking the truth to them; He was also leading them into good pasture. My friends, we must be like the criminal hanging on the cross with Him - we have got to cry out to Him. At this very moment, He’s ready and more than able to carry us out of whatever we are in. Whether we are a thief or a convicted murderer, Jesus is ready to take us to Paradise with Him. All we have to do is say, "Lord remember me... have mercy on me" and be sincere in doing so. If we will do that, He will prepare a table for us right in front of all our enemies, even when we are getting just what we deserve.

The third thing He did while on the cross where He was hanging bleeding, dying and hurting was to make sure that His mother was going to be taken care of. In John 19:26-27, the scriptures tell us that "When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Women, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home." Not only did He take care of His mother (mother speaks of safety and comfort), but also He also took care of His good friend John. That’s the same thing He’ll do for me and you. When we are carrying our crosses (situations and burdens), if we'll just remember to call on him sincerely, He will make sure that we are taking care of.

When we call on Him, He will forgive us. He will speak the truth to us; He will lead us to green pasture; and He will make sure that we are taking care of. He did it for that thief on the cross and He will do it for us. Thank God for Passover!

With all that said, let the Church say amen… and AMEN!          

Worship Before You Get The Miracle!

Worship: to honor, the expression of such reverence
Miracle: an unusual event. An intervention in the natural universe by God

It's so important that we remember to worship the Lord for our miracle before we get it. When praises go up, blessings come down! I know that most of us like to praise God after we have received the miracle, but when you praise God in advance, it's like saying, "I've got total confidence in knowing that what I've asked for is going to come to pass." The word tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God, so let's put our faith into action and praise God before our miracle happens.

That's what blind Bartimaeus did, as he was sitting by the highway begging. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, he stop begging and started worshiping. He began to cry out, saying, "Jesus thou Son of David, have mercy on me." Even though many of the people around "charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he receive his sight" (Mark 10:46-52).

Need another example of worshiping first? Okay: "...there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live." "...When Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose." (Matthew 9:18, 23-25). That ruler praised God in advance and as a result, his daughter arose.

Those are just two quick examples, but they are all throughout the word of God. Remember, we don't need to wait for the miracle before we begin our worship - worship before the miracle and you will see just how fast you will get your miracle!

Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

With all that said, let the Church say Amen... and AMEN!

Don't Wait To Be Blessed, Be a Blessing!

Blessing: a beneficial thing for which one is grateful; something that brings well-being.

So often we want to be blessed. Our fleshly nature always wants to know, 'if I go out of my way to do that, what’s in it for me?' More often than not, if we can't see the silver lining in something for us; we are not real anxious to do it. We must keep in mind what the Word of God says, "it's a bigger blessing to give than to receive." Also, whenever we are a blessing to others, we don’t have to sound a trumpet just to make sure that everyone knows!

Our ultimate example (Jesus) didn’t come to be served - He came to serve. God is so faithful that He will not allow any of our acts of kindness to go unnoticed. If we could learn to look to the Author and Finisher of all things, we would realize that it's okay to be a blessing rather than always wanting someone to bless us. You see, man is limited, but God is not! When He blesses you, you are truly blessed!

Ruth was a good example; she was such a blessing to her mother-in-law. When Naomi lost her husband and both of her sons, Ruth did not leave her, she went back to Bethlehem with her. When she went to the fields to glean ears of corn so they could eat, Ruth wasn’t looking for a blessing - she just wanted to be a blessing to Naomi. Boaz, who was a mighty man of wealth, saw Ruth gleaning in his field and inquired about her. After hearing how she had been such a blessing to her mother-in-law since the death of her husband and sons, Ruth quickly found favor in Boaz's sight. To make a long story short, Ruth became the wife of a mighty man of wealth simply because she was willing and able to be a blessing to someone else.

The word says to give honor where honor is due, so I want to give honor to my dear sweet Aunt, who does SO many things for other people without ever looking for a blessing - just simply wanting to be a blessing. When our mother passed away some years ago, she stepped in and became a mother, a friend, and a sister to me and to my siblings. She visits people in the nursing homes, in the hospital, and has been known to take on small children as her own grandchildren. On top of all that, she also ministers in what ever capacity that she can to her other nieces and nephews; and carries the elderly to the bank, to the grocery store, and to their doctors appointments. When my husband's mother passed away, she took him on as well. We love you and we thank you Auntie Lorine for being such a wonderful blessing to each of us and never looking or expecting to be blessed!

The Lord is our great and mighty rewarder, so let’s be a blessing to someone today and not wait to be blessed!

With all that said, let the Church say Amen and... AMEN!