’Where can we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our hearts, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we; the cities are great and fortified up to heaven; moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” ’ Deut. 1:28 NKJV

My ability to awfulize challenging situations amazes me. I can make an Everest out of every frost heave my car bumps over.

I think part of fallen human nature makes us prone to look at the challenges of life as insurmountable even though Scripture clearly indicates we cannot be defeated as long as we stay in the will of God. Here’s what the Word says about my challenges:

“in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Ro. 8:37 NKJV

“upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Mat. 16:18,19 NKJV

The walls you are facing in life might be big, but they do not reach to Heaven. They are not bigger than God! They are not stronger than you! So don’t fail to step out in faith because the walls appear threatening. Remember: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” I John 4:4 NKJV

Let’s pray: Father I know you see the challenges that lie ahead even better than I do. God I know You have already planned a way around, under, over or through them. So right now I declare by faith I am going to take down the challenges that lie in my way. Grant me wisdom to know what to do. Help me to step forward when the need requires, help me to take risk when the need requires and help me to wait upon You and Your move when the need requires; But do not let me shrink back because of the gates of Hell or the walls of the enemy! In Jesus name Amen!

I am reminded by these verses that most of God’s promises are good only as far as we will walk into them. The Lord fulfilled the promise He made to Abraham. The Israelites had grown from a “mom and pop” organization into an exceedingly great multitude. God had given them the land He  had sworn to their forefather. But they had to go into the land. They had to possess it! They had to take a step of faith.

God had equipped them, grown them and now He was ready to establish them but before they could access the power of Heaven they had to respond to his command and actually go into Canaan.

What promise from Heaven is waiting for you today? Rise up and possess it by faith.

Let’s pray: Dear Lord I know you have heard my prayer and I know what promise I am waiting for. Today Father show me what practical step of faith I have to take in order to possess the promise You have shown me. Give me strength Lord to take that step. Let me find You waiting there to catch me when I make it. In Jesus Name A-men

Here are a few of the lessons I saw in chapter 4 and 5 of Numbers.

Numbers chapter 4 sermon topics/titles:

1. Have You Discovered Your God-Given Burden? Nu. 45: 1-49

2.  Carry The Load But Do Not Touch It! Nu. 4:1-20

3. Many Hands Make Light Work: Nu. 4:34-49

Numbers chapter 5 sermon topics/ titles:

1. Do Not Defile: Nu. 5: 1-4

2. Making Amends: Nu. 5:5-10

3. Is Jealousy Okay? Nu. 5: 11-31

Now you try!

The chapter charts are helpful with bringing the Scripture into sharper focus so errors like this don’t occur. Would that I had charted the work back then! I shall be rewriting “From Shittim to Gilgal” I think. Thanks Mandy! In the meantime here are some things I saw in Numbers Chapter 2 and 3.

Numbers chapter 2 sermon topics and titles:

1. God has a specific way: Nu. 2: 1-34

2. Is it a Divine Sentence? Nu. 2:1-34

3. Praise First On the List: Nu. 2:3,4

Numbers chapter 3 sermon topics/titles:

1. Remember the Mistakes of the Past So They Won’t Be Repeated: Nu. 3: 1-3

2. Anointed for Obligation: Nu. 3: 5-10

3. The Redemptive Life: Nu. 3:40-51

Tell me what speaks to you from these chapters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GO5Jg4lUSt0&feature=youtu.be

Oh and just so’s you know, If any of you happen to be traveling through Northern Massachusetts during the time of one of our meetings and you want to come and play with our artists you have an open invite! Just give me a heads up and we’ll have lunch together!

I was talking with another member of our staff today about the lengths God will go to in order to get our attention.

Contrary to what many people think God is not out to get us. What He really wants is for us to get Him or to “hearken unto Him.”

People think judgment is all about God’s wrath but really it’s about His mercy in the midst of wrath. God does not desire to shut up Heaven against anyone. He is not especially pleased to swipe away the blessing from a person’s life. Nevertheless, He will do it if somehow that will bring us back onto the pathway that leads to Him. When it comes to a choice between a person’s eternal destination and their comfort eternity wins out every time.

While we are quick to believe the level of our pain indicates the level of God’s callousness more often it indicates the level of His love in reaction to our callousness.

As people around us become harder to the things of God we can expect that God will reflect his love and mercy in their lives through hardship and judgment. Let us be a voice that urges people to return to the sanctuary of God for a future and a hope!

Let’s pray: God I know you never shut up Heaven in judgment against a person without a reason. We know that in judgment you do remember mercy and that mercy is your goal continually. Use me God to encourage those I see struggling because of sin to come into your merciful and loving arms once again through repentance! In Jesus name A-men!

This month we began our spring choir and spring instrumental groups. They are getting ready to minister in our church and in a community concert sometime in May.

Meanwhile our graphic artists and poets are working on an outreach program designing  greeting cards to minister to people in our community, and one of our artists

is working on a painting to be sold at a Teen Challenge auction.

The ladies who work in fabric, our prayer shawl ministry, just sent 30 prayer shawls to India to minister to ladies being set free from human trafficking! Hallelujah!

And two of our musicians are working on music projects hoping to go to recording soon!

I am so humbled by what God has done with us in less than a year! Thank you Jesus! May Your kingdom be built! May souls be won!

Here is one of the songs we will do for our spring concert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgQ98x1CAF4

Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit [it] for ever. EX. 32:13

The Milky Way Galaxy is but one galaxy in the universe and it is estimated to contain somewhere between 200-400 billion stars! One of the things that says about our God is that He is a God of abundance. When He promised to bless Abraham and multiply his off-spring as the stars in the sky it was a staggering promise even without today’s technology. But God did it! He remembered His promise! The God of abundance has prospered Abraham’s family even though Satan, the dragon of Scripture has done everything in his power to stop it.

As God promised abundance for Israel, so he promises the same for all those who follow Him: “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.” John 10:10

The promise is sure. So is Satan’s attempt to stop that blessing from flowing. But this I know about God. When once He sets his mind to something it shall be done.

Let’s pray: God I recognize you as a God of abundance! I also recognize you as the One who wishes to bless me! Father I open myself to that blessing. Help me to fight with You for it. Help me to push out everything that seeks to starve the blessing. Help me to open myself to all the things that nourish and grow Your blessing in my life!

We have already discussed how awesome God is by virtue of His marvelous creation. What we could not do with an eternity of time He did in six days; Then He rested. He blessed the day of His rest and made it holy…separate…different from all the rest. He made for himself a day to sit back and revel in the works of His hands. What does God’s resting look like? I don’t know but I am pretty sure that on the Sabbath He did not mow Eden’s lawn. I am pretty sure it was a day of pondering the multi-faceted creation, observing its exquisite beauty, rejoicing in His success, and preparing mentally for the war He was certain lay ahead.

Let’s Pray: Father God I thank you for the Sabbath rest you have given me. Help me not to waste the time of rest and refreshing. Help me to use the day properly to ponder my place in the Kingdom, to observe the blessings You have given me, to revel in the strength Your Holy Spirit puts inside me and to prepare for the tomorrows where the battle still rages until Your day! Bring Your day quickly Lord! In Jesus name! A-men!

Leviticus chapter 27 sermon topics/titles:

1. What Does a Person Cost These Days? Lev. 27:1-13

2. Selling Your Harvest: Lev. 27:14-25

3. You Can’t Give What Is Not Yours: Lev. 27:26

Numbers chapter 1  sermon topics/titles:

1. Counting Your Blessings: Num1: 1-3

2. God is In the Administration Too! Num. 1:1-19

3. Judah Most Blessed: Num 1: 26

Now you try!