This week we acknowledge the birth of the United States, we pray for our nation and leaders, and we are thankful for our liberty. We have much for which to be thankful! Let’s celebrate the Fourth with gratitude to God for what He has allowed us to enjoy.
Have you ever seen any of the humorous commercials promoting Snickers? Snickers kicked off a popular advertising campaign in 2010 featuring commercials with the tagline “you’re not you when you’re hungry”. Apparently the message resonated around the globe and significantly lifted Snickers’ sales.
Today, I want to alter the message: “You’re not you when you’re not hungry”. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled”(Matthew 5:6 MEV). Blessed are those who hunger for what is right in God’s eyes for they shall be filled and fulfilled with those things totally right in God’s eyes. You will never live your BEST life without spiritual hunger for righteousness.
Whatever God begins, He finishes. So often, humans begin projects only to soon set them aside, forgotten and unfinished. God is NOT like that. God completes what He begins; He finishes what He starts.
God’s Word provides wisdom in Romans chapter 12 on how to handle hurt – how to not hold on to hurt. Listen the video to learn more.
Continue reading “DON’T HOLD ONTO HURT Greg Simon 6-10-2020”
Following Christ’s resurrection, His sudden appearance in the midst of His startled disciples included the command: “I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49 MEV).
The Greek word translated “clothed” is used frequently throughout the New Testament, and generally refers to the act of putting on a new set of clothes. To be “clothed with” is to put on, to hide in, to be furnished with what is necessary, or to be armed.
In the 1970’s, streaking (running naked in public) briefly became a popular, yet irreverent, oddity. Streaking was a trend that needed to go away, and we definitely should not live like a Christian streaker. Jesus instructed the disciples to stay in the city until they were clothed with special endowment of empowerment. “Clothed” (Luke 24:49) refers to the equipping and enabling of the Holy Spirit.
Christ’s promise was reiterated just before His ascension: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 MEV). At Pentecost, Holy Spirit came with power!
The church calendar designates this Sunday as Pentecost. As we meet together, we will certainly remember how the Holy Spirit was outpoured and continues to be outpoured. Join us this Sunday at 8:30 or 10 AM as we celebrate together.
Are you in need of a fresh infilling? Do you need an empowering? At conversion, you were touched by the Holy Spirit. At Spirit baptism, you were dunked in the Holy Spirit. Don’t live in spiritual poverty. In Christ, you are entitled to the gifts of the Holy Spirit and His energizing power. Open your heart today and receive a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit will give you greater love for God, greater victory over sin, greater power to witness, and greater release of spiritual gifts. Remove all barriers. Request the Father’s Promise, the Holy Spirit. Step out and release the gifts. And, pray in the Holy Spirit every day of your life.
Don’t be a Christian streaker!
Do you want to know a secret? Our natural response to that question is, “Yes.” We like to be let in on a secret. Guess what? The Apostle Paul tells us he learned the secret to contentment in any and every situation, even in difficult seasons of life. “I do not speak because I have need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. I know both how to face humble circumstances and how to have abundance. Everywhere and in all things I have learned the secret, both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things because of Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:11-13 MEV).” That means, our contentment rests upon the secret that can be learned and the strength that can be received through Christ Jesus.
Our circumstances are morphing rapidly around us. Difficult, strange, disappointing, even life-threatening, BUT we have a secret. The Lord Jesus Christ is willing and able to strengthen His people. So, we draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and grace to help —strength to help— in time of need. Approaching God’s throne is a privilege and blessing, but we must overcome challenges: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Live like you need God’s hands upon your life.
Heavenly Father isn’t content with a good seat in the stands, He wants His hands touching every part of our lives. We need God’s hands upon our lives every day. Wonderfully, God invites us to approach Him and receive His amazing grace to help us. Jesus said apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5)! Do we live as if we don’t really need God’s presence and power to accomplish His purposes on earth?
What was the first thing a person does who comes out of a time of quarantine? When Noah exited the Ark after the flood, he “built an altar to the Lord and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar” (Genesis 8:20 MEV). Altars were significant in the lives of Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all of the Old Testament saints. The altar serves as a meeting place between God and human beings.
In Christ, we have an open invitation to build an altar of prayer and worship and boldly approach God’s throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). We need to come regularly into the presence of God in worship, to encounter Him, to receive an appropriate blessing at just the right moment. Altar worship transcends our weakness and acknowledges God’s power. We receive possibilities larger than we ever imagined. William Temple, Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury in the 1940s, is known for saying, ‘When I pray, coincidences happen, and when I don’t, they don’t.’
Connect with Heaven. Thank God that you are still alive and God is still at work. Pray; worship; expect the supernatural. Build an altar and come expectantly to the throne. Approach with simplicity and trust like a child to a father. Discover fresh perspective, peace, and patience. “With privilege, approach the throne of grace … and find an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment” (Hebrews 4:16 AMP).
“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].” (Hebrews 4:16 AMP)
I once missed out the privilege and the blessing of honestly approaching God’s throne of grace. My thoughts were so consumed with who was watching and who was listening in the room, that my invocation was shackled and my words earth-bound at-best. Seeking the approval of a person robbed me of my Heavenly Father’s pleasure. I was asked to pray, but what was my motive?
Continue reading “Approach1 Privilege & Blessing Greg Simon 5-12-20”
GOD IS GOOD! Like the Psalmist, we should praise, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6a MEV). Our lives should be filled with the great things God has done, is doing, and will do in the future. Follow the link to hear Pastor Greg Simon‘s message “God-Filled & God-Blessed!”
Continue reading “God-Filled & God-Blessed Greg Simon 5-3-20”