Author: Chuck Musselwhite

Crowned with Glory

Most people are so focused on what is urgent or in front of them that they never stop to look at the big picture. Seeing things from another perspective can help you see that things are not as bad as you might think. David shows us God’s perspective in today’s passage. He thinks about you and cherishes above everything else. You are crowned with glory.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭8:4-5

“What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty!”

David has a great way with poetry. In this passage, he expresses his awe of God. He ponders why God would even think about man, who is so small. God doesn’t only give us a thought, but He cares for us and bestows us with glory and majesty. This is amazing, considering that mankind is below the angels. God cares about us so much that He pours out His blessings on His children. When you think that no one cares, remember this passage. God doesn’t have to give you one bit of notice, but he dotes on you instead.

Shaking the Foundations

If you have ever lived through an earthquake, you know what it is like for the ground to move beneath your feet. I’ve been in tall buildings and lying on a waterbed when an earthquake hit. Both personified the shaking and made it feel worse than it was. The Holy Spirit is in the business of shaking the foundations of our spiritual world. He wants to see us grow and be fruitful.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:31‬

“And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.”

The Holy Spirit is in the business of shaking things up. He tugs on our hearts to accept Jesus, He convicts us of sin we don’t want to repent of, and He pushes us to serve the Lord in areas we are uncomfortable with. So it should be no surprise when He moves on a group of people and shakes the foundations. That is what He did in the early church as they prayed for boldness to preach the Gospel and strength to stand against persecution. The Spirit wants to move similarly in today’s church, but He is finding very few takers. Most Christians want their ticket into heaven and to be as safe and comfortable as possible.

You Need to Be Prepared

There were some old cartoons when I was a kid that showed an angel on one shoulder and a devil on another as the character tried to decide. The devil always tried to get the character to do the wrong thing, while the angel did the opposite. Sadly, the devil has been reduced to some cartoon character. Satan is real, and ultimately Christ wins, but you need to be prepared.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭12:9

“And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.”

At one time, Satan, otherwise known as Lucifer, was an angel in heaven. He was in charge of all the worship and was on the same level as Michael and Gabriel. In his heart, he began to desire the worship being given to God. Satan led a rebellion, and one-third of all the angels were cast out of heaven. Lucifer became the devil, and the fallen angels became demons. He was allowed to roam the earth and tempt man, but he was also still allowed in heaven to accuse man of his sins before God. One day, during the great tribulation, that access will be cut off, and God will ready the Judgement Seat of Christ to judge Satan and all those who have rejected God.

Trusting God’s Timing

Are you a person who is always on time or always late? There doesn’t seem to be another category people fall into. Timing is everything for those who are on time. When the schedule gets out of whack, these people lose their minds. Trusting God’s time can challenge those who

‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:6‬

“But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-walk!”

Peter was a changed man after Pentecost and the filling of the Holy Spirit. He was able to preach the Gospel to thousands and discern when the Spirit wanted to work through him. Quite a contrast from the Peter we knew in the Gospels. You can see flashes of potential, but his mouth always got in the way. Now we see him being used by the Spirit to heal this man who had been lame his whole life. He was a well-known beggar who made his place at the gate every day to beg for money. Peter gives him something better, his physical health.

A Model Community

For years builders and governments have been trying to build the ideal community. They always start with the housing and amenities and then add the attractive shopping destinations, all with the hopes of achieving a safe environment for families to raise their children. As lovely as these can get, they always fail because they can’t address the issue that tears cities down, and that is sin. In Act 2, we see a model community based on the work of the Holy Spirit.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:42

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

Luke identifies the four main characteristics that made the early church a model community. They were devoted to the teaching of God’s Word, true fellowship, communion, and prayer. This didn’t happen in a large facility but from house to house as the church grew. The people came from all walks of life and from all over the Roman empire. They weren’t focused on themselves or their needs but on being apart of something bigger than themselves. This group turned the known world upside down, and millions of lives were changed.

Take Refuge in the Lord

There are few things more miserable than being cold and wet. Being out in the elements with no shelter can leave you frustrated. Once you get inside and warm, everything changes. The same can be said when we are wandering through life lost and confused. King David tells us to take refuge in the Lord….

Waiting on the Spirit

You don’t need a scientific survey to tell you that people are getting more impatient these days. All you have to do is pull out onto a public road and interact with other drivers. You can also sense it in the church. People expect a quick fix to their problems, and waiting on the Spirit to do a work in their heart and church is unthinkable. If we want to see Jesus bring revival to our land, we need to be willing to wait.

**Acts 1:8 **

“but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”

Jesus’ final words to His disciples were to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. It was ten days between the ascension and Pentecost, and the early church of about one hundred and twenty people prayed in the Upper Room. They waited and worshipped in expectation of something special. We don’t have that expectation anymore. We want it now, or we lose interest. Waiting on the Spirit to do something in church service can seem like an eternity, but good things come to those who seek in expectation

The Lord Hears You When You Call

Do you ever feel like no one is listening to you? Does it seem like everyone is distracted and doing their own thing? Are you feeling alone? If this is the case, then understand that the Lord hears when you call Him. He has set apart His children and loves to listen to our prayers….

Gently Restored

I can’t imagine the range of emotions that Peter went through from the time of his denial to this encounter with Jesus in Galilee. Always the brave and brash disciple, he was humbled by a rooster crowing and then distraught as Jesus was crucified. After thinking it was all over, his emotions shot up again at the news from Mary Magdalene that Jesus was alive only to find an empty tomb. Finally, Jesus appeared out of nowhere in the Upper Room, and at first, there was elation, but then it spiraled downward as Peter remembered how he had failed Jesus. After a morning of fishing, Jesus gently restored Peter to what he was called to be.

‭‭John‬ ‭21:16

“He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”

Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Him. Three times Peter answered that he did. Jesus then proceeded to tell Peter to “shepherd my sheep.” When Jesus first met Peter, he told him that he would make him a fisher of men. He wasn’t going to let him turn his back on that. Jesus wasn’t asking Peter if he loved Him to pump Himself up. He was asking to remind Peter of his love and his calling. Peter was going to be instrumental in the beginning days of the church, and Jesus needed him to be of the right mind.

Let God Pour Out His Spirit On You

The church today is lacking the power of the Holy Spirit. It is full of activity and good works, but it sees minimal life transformation. People are busy doing these works under their own power but soon fall victim to burnout. What you need is a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. Let God pour out His Spirit upon you.

‭‭Joel‬ ‭2:28

“It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions.”

The second chapter of Joel is packed with spiritual goodness. First, God warns that the Day of the Lord is coming, then He tells them to rend their hearts and return to Him, now He promises that He will pour out His Spirit on all people, and people will prophesy, dream, and see visions. In this capsule, you see God’s heart for His wayward people. He sees them living far under what He intended for them.