PASTOR’S THOUGHTS
STAND FIRM IN THE GAP Ezekiel 22:30-31″I looked for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none. So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger.” As in the days of Ezekiel, spiritual walls are crumbling all around us. We have whitewashed sin in the name of tolerance…and we have lost our passion for holiness and worship in the busyness of materialism and worldly advancement. And tragically, many of our churches are filled with compromise and fail to point the way to truth. The result is many lives filled with spiritual gaps…areas vulnerable to grave attack by the enemy.
We must repair our own walls through repentance, forgiveness, and daily drawing nearer to the presence of God. But we must also look for “gaps” in the walls of those around us and commit to standing firm with prayer, encouragement, and time…until strength returns and walls are repaired. We must be ones who live without compromise and faithfully point the way to true worship and a life which glorifies God in all we do. Let’s continue to stand in the gap for as long as it takes the relationship of a friend to be restored…the strength of a pastor to be renewed…the heart of a loved one to be transformed…or the life of a prodigal child to return home. God’s words through Ezekiel are harsh, but God didn’t give up on the people until the people gave up on each other. It’s not too late if we continue to point the way; there is still hope if we will stand firm in the gap. ❤️ —Steve Troxel
“Stay Alert And Do The Work: Speak life over your life, starting today. Speak to your mountains and tell them to move in Jesus’ Name! Speak to your fears and tell them that Jesus’ perfect love is greater still. Speak to your soul and remind yourself that God is always good. Deal with discouragement the moment it hits you. Catch your negative emotions the moment they surface. Turn your heart toward heaven and sing a song of praise to your Maker…He will minister to your heart and strengthen your frame. Breathe in His grace and breath out His peace. His presence surrounds you. His promises are for you. Though this season may have taken you by surprise, you have what you need to thrive and grow in this place. Open your eyes and see evidence of God’s movement all around you. ❤️
Mark 11:23 ”Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.“”
From my good friend and brother in the Lord, BJ Ibach ❤️ Psalm 25:1-2, 20 1 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. 20 Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. Physical safety is important, for sure. As I read Psalm 25, there is a different safety that I think is more important – the safety of the SOUL. “Let me not be put to shame” – that is a soul issue, not a physical issue. And the devil is sneaky – he comes at us through external words of condemnation and hurt and shame, but he also comes through internal shame and condemnation. Those words of shame are lies from the enemy. So how do we confront the devil and his lies of shame? Turn to scripture to remind yourself of the character of God: Verse 2 – trust in God, Verse 5 – lead me in your truth and teach me Verse 6 – Lord’s mercy and steadfast love Verse 8 – God is good and upright Verse 10 – all the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness Verse 21 – May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you. Guarding the soul is important. As the arrows come at us, whether external arrows or internal arrows, God invites us to trust in Him and press into Him. Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your SOULS. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Revelation 3:20 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and eat with him, and he with me. What a beautiful invitation… Lord, Thank you for your truth, your mercy, your goodness, steadfast love, your faithfulness, your friendship, your grace, your protection of my soul, your rest for my soul, your knock. Amen.
THE LAMB IS FIGHTING FOR YOU: We can face the future with hope because Jesus will overcome every enemy we face. Toward the end of the book of Revelation, the conflict intensifies between those who have aligned themselves with Jesus and those who oppose Him. Waves of God’s judgment unfold on earth and further harden His opponents’ hearts. But the overall message of Revelation isn’t doom and gloom…it’s HOPE. The book is meant to bring comfort to God’s people as they face tribulation. Today’s message is one of encouragement that relates to both the first and second coming of Christ. The prophet Isaiah said the Messiah would be known as “Immanuel,” meaning “God with us” (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:22-23). Jesus, the Lamb of God, gave His life for us, overcoming death…and He promised to be with us always. So, when we find ourselves in the midst of fiery trials and spiritual battles…we can rest in the assurance of today’s passage: “The Lamb will overcome them because He is the Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” (Rev 17:14) Jesus will be with us to the end of time (Matt. 28:20) …and Revelation reminds us that He will not only be near…but will overcome His foes (and ours) because He is Ruler of all. He will have the final word. Our Savior wants us to know who He says we are…the called, chosen, and faithful…and since He is “Immanuel”…we can forever be with Him. ❤️–Charles Stanley