The Place BEFORE The Promise Land

“Why did you make us leave Egypt? To bring us to this terrible place without seed, figs, grapevines, pomegranates, or even water to drink?”

— Numbers 20:5

No, God didn't bring you to this place He is asking you to travel through this place. God never brings us to a place of suffering, but it might be on the way to the place He wants us to go. His plan all along was to take them to a land with milk and honey, their spies had seen the place and testified of its goodness. So, why even debate that they are in the place that God is bringing them? 

Because we are selfish and impatient. We need our comfort and ease to be at our beck and call, and if it's not we complain or murmur about the situation God has brought us TO. But He hasn't! It's not a destination, it's a stop along the way. When we drive to Disneyland you pass through hundreds of miles along the way of desert and wasteland. And if you stopped you could rightly say, "This isn't Disneyland, why did you bring us here? This place doesn't have any rides or Mickey Mouse." And we would say, "We're not there yet, this is just a stop along the way."

Are you letting God take you through or are you complaining about some stop along the way?

Are we there yet?

Pastor Brent

Finally Brethren

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

— Philippians 4:8

When somebody says finally, things are about ready to wrap up.  Unless it’s a preacher or a politician, then, all bets are off.

So, when Paul in Phil 4:8 starts with finally, brethren, we need to do two things.  One, find out what he was talking about before, and two, see what was so important that he was letting us know what would be in his last teaching.

The list that follows is very important because it is a way to build our mind like the mind of Christ.  Would we dare to think that Jesus ever thought outside of this boundary?  No, He stayed His mind on things above while dealing with the things down here.

But what about me?  Can I honestly say that this group of things captures my mind and heart, and I put the things that I am thinking up to the scrutiny of this verse?

If we did, our sleep would be better, our souls would be more content, our anxiety and fear levels would be non-existent, or at least under control.  That sounds like reason enough to study this verse over the next few weeks in itself.

But, in addition to all the beneficial things to ourselves, we get the added knowledge that we are living the Way of Jesus by thinking the Way of Jesus.

So, Good Thoughts,

Pastor Brent

Which Way Is Your Light Facing?

Num. 8:3 “Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the Lord commanded Moses.”

Don't illuminate what is behind you, but rather look to light the path ahead.

Don't think about the darkness that may linger in your past, but use the light of God to illuminate not just your own walk, but that of the people around you.

It is you who sets the light to this position.

You are the one who determines which direction the reflected light of Jesus will shine.

Pastor Brent

Crazy Truth

Acts 26:25 “But Paul said, ‘No, I am not 'crazy', Festus, your excellency; on the contrary, I am speaking words of truth and sanity’.”

Crazy talk will get you noticed and possibly put in restraints (if you are persistent enough), But what Paul was saying was not crazy, but simply against the grain of normal Jewish thought. Anytime we are to step out of the mainstream of thought we need to be ready for the objections from the establishment to what God has told us.

But it will also determine whether or not you have convictions in your ideas or just a desire to be a contrarian. God wants courageous people who are not afraid to express the revelations He has shared with them, but He doesn't need those who are simply looking for recognition.

Paul had the opportunity to share with two high-ranking diplomats and he couldn't take the chance that he would get another chance, so he poured out that which caused him to turn from the error of his ways and come into the light. Without apology and without condemnation, he shared God's love for even those fighting Him.

Don't be afraid to share God's working with, and in you with the people God gives you an audience with. For these are the ones to whom God is giving His message, and He's doing it through you. Go ahead, be 'crazy'.

Pastor Brent

The View From Here

“Now we see through a glass darkly, then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

— 1 Corinthians 13:12

So, given that our view is through this dark glass, why should we be so all-fired sure that we have the answers?

Shouldn’t we be humble enough to admit that there are things about God that He hasn’t revealed to us yet?

“But Pastor, then people won’t think we have all the answers!” Why do you think they stay away from church in the first place? A place filled with people that all know what’s good for you, even if they don’t know you! Sounds like a family gathering and you’re the topic of the day.

But really, shouldn’t we be seeking how to share Jesus’ message instead of our supposed knowledge? Which, it seems, at best, is flimsy, according to the Word.

Share the love of God - that is known!

Share the grace of God - that is also known!

Share the mercy of God - known!

And even these are limitless and the fullness of them unknowing. And therein lies the beauty of God’s bounties - limitless!

The view from here should be humbling and gracious. Is that your view? Trying to make it mine.

Pastor Brent

The Power of the Care of Christ

“And now I entrust you to the care of the Lord and to the message of his love and kindness, for it can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who have been set apart for God.
”

— Acts 20:32

Paul is speaking to the Ephesians whom he invited to Miletas. He is explaining to them that he will not see them again and they, as elders, are to watch out for wolves will infiltrate their fellowship and try to tear them apart.

But, as he extols in this verse, he is trusting God, the protector of all those in Christ Jesus to keep them safe from the destruction of their souls. Paul has seen the enemy, and has given them the only hope he can.....Christ Jesus.

It's his love and kindness that will give them the courage to withstand all the wiles of the devil, whether in the form of a person or demon. And it (the message) is what can build you up and keep you strong. Paul has been faithful in prayer and now it is the time for the church to stand up. He is saying that they, with the Lord, are strong enough for any task. And so, my fellow brethren and sisters are you.

Pastor Brent

Renewed

Anankainosis - renewal, renovation, complete change for the better.

This process is done in the mystery of the cocoon.

In that process the Caterpillar is reduced to a substance that can literally be reformed. Made into something entirely different.

When you think about your life before and compare, is there anything you would drag into the life God has given you?

The Pharisees continually told Jesus they were free, they could see, and they knew certain things that He was obviously unaware of.

But Jesus told them because they said they could see, then their sins would be held to their account. And He would minister to those people who wanted, and desired the healing and knowledge that He came to bring.

If you feel you're alright, why would you want transformation? If you like crawling on the ground, why would you want to fly?

But this is what we are called to. Jesus wants us to be born again. And why would there be new birth with the same results? Let your mind be renewed by the washing of the blood and the Spirit. Grow beyond how you thought 10, 5, 2, one year ago, or even last month. God is the same, yesterday, today, and forever, you and I shouldn't be.

Pastor Brent

Shabbat

   Ex. 35:2 On six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is to be a holy day for you, a Shabbat of complete rest in honor of Adonai. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death.

    Pretty straight forward. Death. Not a lot of wiggle room. Death.

    Along comes Jesus and most of the healings of Jesus that were recorded in the New Testament were on the Sabbath. Why? And my answer would be the fact that what God is doing on the Sabbath is rest for us, otherwise, pastors never would have a rest day. God's work should not be work for us. One of the things God commanded in the putting together of the temple was the clothing of the priests would not be made of wool so they would not sweat. The "sweat of our brow" is not something God requires, but rather the investment of our heart.

    Jesus healed on the Sabbath because He said He saw His Father working on the Sabbath. Just as they fed their animals, or rescued them from the ditch. 

    We are to bless and be blessed on the Sabbath because it is food that other people do not know of, water that springs up from our inner being, and refreshing to our spirit.

    We need a day devoted to the Lord. You can decide that day. But man was made to have a day in six to regenerate. It was important enough that in the institution it was death to miss it. Now we have grace, but our bodies and minds are made the same. Choose a day that is the Lord's, your spirit will thank you for it.

Pastor Brent

Step By Step

Ex 23:29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, which would cause the land to become desolate and the wild animals too many for you. 30 I will drive them out from before you gradually, until you have grown in number and can take possession of the land.

    Does this remind anyone else of the verse which says, "He will not let you be tempted above that which you are able to bear"? It does me, and it reminds me also that there is a big promise in front of me, the blessings of which I'm not even aware.

    The promised land is before you. So are the big, scary looking circumstances, and impossible looking situations. But, God is not going to make you tackle them all at once. In fact, He is going to allow those dwellers to live there so your space does not become empty and have wild animals come in. At the proper time YOU will inhabit your own Canaan land and it will be maintained, and walled and ready for the growth you've experienced in God!

Pastor Brent