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Weekly Word Continuation [5.5.21]

Posted on by Rob Collins in Weekly Word

Continuation of the Weekly Word… [5.5.21]

Judges 6:39-40: Then Gideon said to God, “Do not let Your anger burn against me as I speak only one more time. Please let me perform a test with the fleece one more time. Please, let the fleece be the only thing dry, and let there be dew on all of the ground.” So God did this during that night. Only the fleece was dry, and the dew was on all the ground.

There are times when my faith is not at the level that it should be. Can you relate? As a matter of fact, I can say with assurance that God has more faith (confidence) in me, than I do in myself. And, even more astoundingly, God chooses to use me in spite of myself. The story of Gideon in today’s passage relays this message to us as well *(Judges 6&7). Gideon is threshing wheat in a winepress. He was hiding out when the angel of the Lord showed up and proclaimed to him that he was a mighty man of valor and that the Lord was going to use him to see a victory for the children of Israel against their enemies. The Angel of the Lord said, “Gideon you are a mighty man of valor!” And Gideon said, “Who, me?” In other words, “Say what!” As A matter of fact, Gideon continually said “what” and “if” to everything that was being declared to him from the Lord. Look at the verse above. Gideon basically said, “Now get mad at me God, but I’m going to ask you one more time if your sure that I am your man.” In other words, I believe you, but I don’t believe you. It’s a matter of an underdeveloped faith. And sometimes where our faith needs to be developed the greatest, is in who we can be through Christ and in what He can do in and through us of we will just trust Him and believe Him *(have faith). It reminds of the man in the Bible who said, “I believe, but help my unbelief.” Or, how about when Jesus said to Peter, “O ye of little faith”, after getting out of the boat and walking on the water. Peter had faith or he would have stayed in the boat when the Lord bid to him, “Come.” Peter had faith, but he didn’t have faith that was bigger than the wind and the waves. Gideon had faith, but he didn’t have faith that could see himself as a mighty man of valor being victorious over the enemies of God. I have faith! But, it is still underdeveloped in so many areas. I confess, “Lord I believe, but help my unbelief.” Gideon conquered over the enemies armies with less men than he thought he needed and it all happened with some lanterns, trumpets and ceramic jars. God chooses to do things in way that can only happen if He is in the equation. When you put your faith in God, He will make a way where there is no way and He will use you in ways that you never thought possible!

Prayer: Father, today I pray for everyone that is reading this. I pray that you be with them. I pray that you will strengthen and establish their faith in a new way today. I pray that you will encourage them. I pray that you will bless them. I pray that they will find faith and confidence in you and in who they can be and in what they can do through you. I pray that their faith will be strengthened and that they will be renewed and refreshed today in their personal faith! In Jesus name, Amen.

Main Thought for the Week: Faith is powerful and faith is the beginning of all things! Without faith it is impossible to please God. The beginning of faith and the beginning of pleasing God is believing that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those that earnestly seek Him. So, does faith really matter? Yes it does! And whom and what you put your faith in matters just as much. I want you to know today that you can put your faith in God, because He is faithful! 

Weekly Word Continuation [5.4.21]

Posted on by Rob Collins in Weekly Word

Continuation of the Weekly Word… [5.4.21]

Luke 18:8: I tell you, He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

We all grow weary in our walk of faith. There may even be times when you get discouraged or feel like giving up, however, that is not the answer! As a matter of fact, I believe that the key to the Christian life and continuing in faith is to: NOT GIVE UP! If you are going to see what you are believing for come to pass you must not grow weary in well doing *(Gal. 6:9). So, you must – keep believing… keep hoping… keep trusting and keep the faith! The parable in Luke 18 of ‘the Persistent Widow” tells us of a widow that continues to pursue a judge until He helps her with her need. In this parable Jesus tell us that the judge was wicked and didn’t regard mankind or God, but because of her persistence, He gave her what she was asking for and she found justice. Now, it’s interesting that this red letter passage (parable) ends with the verse above, verse eighteen. Notice this verse tells us that just like the judge, God himself will avenge them speedily that continue in faith by asking and believing. Nonetheless, He also ends by saying, “Nevertheless when the Son of Man comes, we He find faith on the earth?” What kind of faith? The kind of faith displayed by this widow. The kind of faith that doesn’t give up, but rather continues to seek and ask and believe.

Prayer: Father, today I pray for everyone that is reading this. I pray that you be with them. I pray that you will strengthen and establish their faith in a new way today. I pray that you will encourage them. I pray that you will bless them. I pray that they will find the faith to not give up, to not give out or to not give in. I pray that their faith will be strengthened and that they will be renewed and refreshed today in their persistent faith! In Jesus name, Amen.

Main Thought for the Week: Faith is powerful and faith is the beginning of all things! Without faith it is impossible to please God. The beginning of faith and the beginning of pleasing God is believing that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those that earnestly seek Him. So, does faith really matter? Yes it does! And whom and what you put your faith in matters just as much. I want you to know today that you can put your faith in God, because He is faithful! 

Weekly Word [5.3.21]

Posted on by Rob Collins in Weekly Word

Main Thought for the Week [5.3.21]

Hebrews 11:6: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

I believe that faith is the beginning of all things! Therefore, since this is the first “Weekly Word”, let’s start with the topic of faith. The word “faith” means many different things to many different people. For some it may even mean their religion or their belief in God. For others it is just simply means believing in something or someone. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Verse three of that same chapter tells us that by faith the universe was framed by the word of God, so that the things that are seen were not made out of things that are visible. So, you can see by these two verses that faith deals with trust and belief, especially in things that can’t be seen. The word for faith in the Greek is pistas. It simply means: belief, confidence and trust. What you put your faith, belief, confidence and trust in is so important. You can put your faith in the wrong things or the wrong people and end up experiencing frustration and disappointment. We must put our faith in God first and foremost, because He is faithful and He is true! He can be trusted because He sees what you can’t see and He knows what you don’t know. What and who you put your trust in will determine the outcome of what you will experience. It will determine your level of peace. Nonetheless, you can trust God! It might not always make sense and you may not always understand, but you can trust God. In the beginning the earth was dark and void and without form, but God stepped out on nothing and created the beginning of everything. He then took the dust of the earth and breathed in it life and it became a living being. He created everything in the earth in the continuum of time, space and matter and He created you for His creative purposes. A God that holds the whole world in His hands is holding you and your world in His hands. He is the Alpha, the Omega and He is the beginning and the end. He always has been and He always will be. He is tried and true and He is faithful! Faith is the beginning of all things and what and whom you put your faith in matters! Faith is the substance of things hoped for – the evidence of things not seen. Hope and faith in God is not wishful thinking. It is rather a heightened expectation that believes God is Who He said He is and that He can and will do what He said he will do! 

Faith looks foolish until the thing that you are believing for is manifested and here are some biblical accounts that emphasize what I mean:

  1. Abraham and Sarah being promised a child in old age – but Isaac was born.
  2. Noah building an ark with no rain falling from the sky – but the earth flooded and Noah and his family were saved.
  3. Moses stretching a rod over the Red Sea – but the children of Israel crossed over on dry land and inhabited the promise land.
  4. The Children of Israel marching around the walls of Jericho Seven times – but the walls came tumbling down.
  5. David releasing a stone from a slingshot to kill a giant – but He killed Goliath.
  6. Elijah praying for rain and sending his servant to the sea seven times to look for a cloud – but the rain came.
  7. Mary being overshadowed by Holy Spirit and becoming pregnant – but Jesus was born of a virgin and He is the savior of all mankind.
  8. The little lad giving his lunch to the disciples – but Jesus fed the multitudes with it.
  9. The blind man who wiped mud in his eyes – but he regained his eyesight.
  10. The disciples casting their net on the other side of the boat for a catch – but they caught so many fish that the net broke and the boat began to sink.
  11. The woman with the issue of blood touching the hem of His garment – but she was made whole and healed that very instance.
  12. Jesus surrendering His life, dying on a cross, wrapped in grave clothes and laid in a tomb with a stone rolled in front of it – but Jesus got up and He lives today to make intercession for you and me.

Faith is powerful and faith is the beginning of all things! Without faith it is impossible to please God. The beginning of faith and the beginning of pleasing God is believing that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those that earnestly seek Him. So, does faith really matter? Yes it does! And whom and what you put your faith in matters just as much. I want you to know today that you can put your faith in God, because He is faithful!

Possess the Promise

Posted on by Rob Collins in Messages

The desert is a place where things die! Some things have to die before you possess what you desire!

The children of Israel had to be delivered from Egypt (place of bondage). But, they had to die in the desert (place of letting go of the past), before they could ever dominate in the promised land (place of taking new ground).

There’s always a sequence when it comes to destiny. The children of Israel left Egypt, but they wandered in the desert before they possessed the original plan of the promised land. I’m seeing that the desert is the most significant place on your way to a destiny or in obtaining the promised things of God.

1. The children of Israel FLED Egypt.

2. They DWELT in the desert.

3. They POSSESSED the promised land.

@robalancollins: Gods plan was to lead the children of Israel out of bondage. The desert was necessary so that Egypt’s mindset, (a place bondage) wouldn’t be brought in to the promise land.

The children of Israel was under bondage, what was their bondage? Doing the same thing everyday, under a burden of bondage.

Don’t Stop Believing!

Posted on by Rob Collins in Messages

Faith Looks Foolish Until the Promise Promised, Manifests.

  1. Abraham and Sarah being promised a child in old age. 
  2. Noah building an ark with no rain falling from the sky.
  3. Moses stretching his rod over the Red Sea.
  4. The Children of Israel marching around the walls of Jericho Seven times.
  5. David releasing a stone from a slingshot to kill a giant.
  6. Elijah praying for rain and sending his servant to the sea 7 times to look for a cloud.
  7. Mary saying, “Nevertheless Lord, at your Word”, in regards to being Jesus mother.
  8. The little lad giving his lunch to the disciples.
  9. The blind man who wiped mud in his eyes. 
  10. The disciples casting their net on the other side of the boat for a catch.
  11. The woman with the issue of blood touching the hem of His garment.
  12. Jesus, surrendering His life, dying on a cross, being wrapped in grave clothes and laid in a tomb with a stone rolled in front of it.

#DON’TSTOPBELIEVING!

Through It

Posted on by Rob Collins in Blog, Messages

We're Wired to Take the Path of Least Resistance | Psychology Today

You may have been ‘through it’ but you don’t have to smell like it, sound like it or look like it! Maybe you’ve been through: divorce, a bad home life, a difficult marriage, betrayal, a bad church history, or a difficult work setting, but you don’t have to smell like, sound like it or look like it. Now, let me explain through these biblical stories what I mean by ‘smelling like it’, ‘sounding like it’ or ‘looking like it.’

When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went through the fire, the only thing that burnt up was what bound them. And, what bound them was put on by man! What you go through is not meant to destroy you, it’s meant to develop. What you go through doesn’t define you. What you learn from what you go through and how you respond to what you go through is what actually defines you. Don’t just go through it, grow through it!

Joseph who was thrown in a pit by his brothers, lied about at Potiphar’s house by Potiphar’s wife and forgotten about in prison after prophesying to Pharaoh’s butler and baker. Joseph experienced many setbacks and difficulties, but remarkably, after going through all of these scenarios, he didn’t smell like, sound like or look like: the pit, Potiphar’s house or the prison. Nevertheless, when he had finally obtained the position of the prime minister at the palace, his brothers came to him asking for help and fearing for their lives. His brothers in which had started the entire process, the process of the pit, Potiphar’s house and prison. But, all of these setbacks were really a setup that ultimately led Joseph to the palace and put him in a position over the stewardship over prosperity, which in turn was a confirmation of his promise. Anyway, Joseph was now promoted to a position that would allow him to bless those that had caused him these difficulties. Joseph is now in the palace facing his brothers who are asking for help and he looks at them and says, “Do not fear, I’m not God, and what you meant for harm against me today, God is going to turn it around and use it for your good. Remember, when you are going through a difficult situation, not everything that happens is good, but God will work all things for your good. Joseph had grown through, what he had gone through!

Paul and Silas had been preaching Christ and baptizing believers, going through town to a prayer meeting they encountered a woman who had a python spirit, she followed them and continually declared, “these are men of God who will tell you how to be saved.” Nevertheless, she annoyed Paul, so he cast the spirit of Python out of her, and when he did, her master turned them into the authorities because she was no longer of worth to them. Paul and Silas were then prosecuted, beaten publicly, and thrown in prison, after bound in stocks hand and foot. However, they decided to pray and praise, instead of pouting or complaining. What they chose to do, affected everyone. All of the prisoners chains were loosed and every prison door was opened because of the earthquake that was experienced, as Paul and Silas prayed and praised. They didn’t allow what had happened to them, dictate their response. They rose above what had happened and sang praises to God and prayed. As a result, the Philippian  jailer was saved, and his household. Maybe what you’re going through isn’t just about you. Anyway, here’s what I want you to see, Paul and Silas didn’t smell like, look like or sound like misfortune. He and Silas prayed and praised and when the prison doors opened and their chains fell off, they and all of the prisoners stayed in their cells and didn’t move. When the prison guard called for a light and was about to take his life because he presumed the prisoners had fled, Paul called with a loud voice and said, “Do yourself no harm!”  Paul and Silas didn’t just go through it – they grew through it! 

There will be times in life when you will experience misfortunate and less than desirable seasons of life. Nonetheless, you don’t have to smell like it, look like it or sound like it. And, you won’t, if you grow through, what you’re going through.

 

cOVERed

Posted on by Rob Collins in Blog, Messages

When you know you are cOVERed by God’s love, mercy and grace it will help you get over what you’re going through.

Being cOVERed is an Eternal promise that becomes an Internal reality that doesn’t change according to External  circumstances. 

All of Gods promises are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The word is eternal and establishes Gods promises – Jesus is the Word and He fulfilled and continues to establish God’s promises. He is the Word and He is eternal – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever more! Therefore, being covered by Gods FAITHFULNESS, FAVOR and FORGIVENESS are Eternal promises that are established by God and fulfilled through Jesus, these promises then become an Internal reality that doesn’t change according to External  circumstances. The Eternal promise of God cOVERing us in our mother’s womb is established in Psalm 139, and this promise doesn’t change, because God has not changed His mind! His promises are eternal and established in Christ!

So, when I know I’m covered it’s an Internal knowing of an Eternal promise that says Gods got this, therefore I can get over whatever it is that I’m going through! And, External circumstances don’t determine the outcome, because what I know Internally is established Eternally and is not dictated Externally. When you learn to walk in what you KNOW, you will get OVER what you can’t see. When you know you are covered it will help you get over what you’re going through.

The Bible is Full of Pictures of the Word cOVERed or Being cOVERed:

  • Jesus with Jerusalem (like a hen cOVERs her chickens with her feathers)
  • Adam and Eve cOVERed themselves with fig leaves
  • Noah sons cOVERed his nakedness
  • Elijah cOVERed Elisha with his mantle
  • Samuel cOVERed with his robe from Hannah to minister in the Temple
  • Children of Israel cOVERed the doorposts of their homes with the blood of the lamb
  • David cOVERed with Saul’s armor
  • Lazarus cOVERed in clothes strips of linen and cloth on his face
  • Jesus in (wrapped) cOVERed in swaddling clothes
  • Jesus cOVERed in grave clothes

I Want You to Know You Are cOVERed by:

    • God’s Faithfulness
    • God’s Favor
    • God’s Forgiveness
  • Being cOVERED by God’s FAITHFULNESS will remind you of what you already know.When I think about being cOVERed by faithfulness, I think about God Himself who is and was and is to come. He is faithful, righteous, Holy and just. The One Who created the heavens and earth. The One who stood out on nothing and created everything. The One who sits on His throne in Heaven. The One who is ever present and always concerned, but who is never taken by surprise or wondering what to do next. The One who was the fire by night and a pillar by day. The One who was the fourth man walking in the fire. The One who parted the Red Sea. The One who will make a way where there is no way. The One who makes the cooked places straight. The One who creates streams in the desert places. The Alpha, the Omega, the Beginning and the End. The One who was, and is and is to come.The One who is all powerful and all knowing, the One who is complete and lacking nothing! The One who saves, heals and delivers! The One who establishes our end from the beginning and our beginning from our end. The One who remains faithful, even when we are faithless! -II Timothy 2:13 | Lamentations 3:23
  • Being cOVERed by God’s FAVOR Will Enable You to See Your Setback As a Setup.When I think about being cOVERed by favor, I think of Joseph – because Joseph was able to get over what he was going through. He was able to get over being thrown in a pit, he was able to get over being lied about at Potiphar’s house, and he was able to get over being forgotten about in prison. And, he had favor in every situation! -Genesis 50:20 | Romans 8:28
  • Being cOVERed by God’s FORGIVENESS Will Get You Past Your PastWhen I think about being cOVERed by forgiveness, I think of the original sin in the beginning and what Adam and Eve did. They covered themselves. Genesis 3:7 tells us that Adam Eve were naked and afraid, so they sewed together fig leaves and covered themselves. They tried to do for themselves, what only God could do. However, Genesis 3:20 tells us that God made for them tunics of skin and clothed them. Thus, introducing His idea to make a way for us to be covered by Him, through Christ. Only God can do that, we can’t do it for ourselves. There are so many pictures and metaphors in regards to penitence and forgiveness and they all ultimately point to Christ being the final and ultimate sacrifice for our sin. The Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God id eternal life through Jesus Christ. With this in mind, think about the children of Israel covering their doorposts with the blood of the Lamb defeating the death angel, that had to passover. Also, think about the Father and the prodigal son. The Father ran to the son and covered him with a robe, placed a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet, all before he was ever clean. God clothes us in righteous and cleans us as we continue to grow in Him. And finally, think about Jesus being clothed in grave clothes and coming forward victorious! Life defeated death and the victory over sin was ultimately and once and for all, defeated!

Now, we’ve talked about being cOVERed by: God’s faithfulness, God’s favor and God’s forgiveness. And, these are all good things to be cOVERed in and to be cOVERed by. They are also attributes in which we can find peace, hope and strength. But, I believe a person can also be cOVERed by the wrong things as well, things that you may have allowed others to put on you or maybe even things that you have believed for yourself and by default, you’ve chosen to wear.

Things Like:

  • Doubt
  • Fear
  • Unworthiness 
  • Guilt 
  • Shame
  • Peoples opinions
  • Perceptions 

They tried to put Saul’s armor on David. They put grave clothes on Jesus, who was life. And, they put cloth strips on Lazarus and cloth around his eyes. But, what they had put on him to prepare his body for death had to come off. When Jesus said, “Lazarus come forth!” He came forth bound hand and foot, with his eyes covered. What went on one way, had to come off the opposite way. Jesus said, “Loose him and let him go!” 

What is it that you have allowed yourself to be cOVEred with? What is it that you are bound by that you need to be set free from? Remember, what you conceal God can’t heal. Nonetheless, what you reveal, God can heal. The Lord wants to cOVER you in His mercy, grace and peace. What you uncOVER, God will cOVER with His peace, power and strength, and when you know you are cOVERed, it will help you get over what you are going through!