This is Not Our Home

Several years ago, we sold our home and moved to another city close to the school our children would be attending. We moved into a smaller home while waiting to purchase a bigger home and a more desired neighborhood. The housing market exploded, prices went up, and we are still in that small house. It hasn’t been bad, but it is not our final destination. As Christians living in this world, we need to remember this is not our home.

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭14:14

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and sitting on the cloud was one like a son of man, having a golden crown on His head and a sharp sickle in His hand.”

As you get closer to the end of the book of Revelation, you can see the finish line. The judgments are coming to an end, the time of tribulation is ending, and the Son of God is becoming more evident. The time for Jesus to take His throne in Jerusalem for the millennial reign is getting close. Satan, his demons, and all of mankind that rejected God will soon be judged, and the church will come and rule and reign with Christ. It will be a glorious day when Jesus comes on His white horse and defeats the armies of the world.

Seek the Good

One thing COVID has done is increase the gap between the wealthy and poor. Most of the jobs that were lost were the low-paying ones that the poor often hold. With most of these businesses closed, workers were furloughed, or worse, the business closed, and the job was lost forever. The Bible is clear that…

If It Is of God It Won’t Fail

Have you ever felt defeated when God has led you to do a work, and it faced resistance? Did you give up or push through? It is normal to question what you are called to do when you face any opposition. The Jewish leaders wanted to kill Peter and John, but they backed down because of some wise counsel. If it is of God, it won’t fail.

‭‭Acts‬ ‭5:39

“So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,”
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In the early days of the church, there was a movement by the Sanhedrin to snuff it out. They went after the leaders, Peter and John. They wanted to kill them until a wise Pharisee named Gamaliel stepped in and provided some counsel, “if this is of man, it will fail, but if it is of God, you won’t be able to stop it.” Fortunately for the Jewish leaders, they listened. They weren’t going to stop the new work that God was doing through the church.

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