Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Picture Of God

“This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your  Kingdom come, our will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:9-10

You probably recognize this as the first two verses of "The Lord's Prayer". To put this prayer in context He has just told his disciples how NOT to pray and now He proceeds to instruct them in prayer.

How many times in your life do you suppose you have prayed the Lord's Prayer? If you have children you may have taught it to them.

What if I told you Jesus didn't give this to the disciples as a prayer to pray but as a pattern for how to pray?

And what if I told Jesus didn't didn't give this to the disciples as a prayer to pray but also as a picture of God.

Jesus is saying, "When you pray, pray according to this pattern."

He is saying, "When you pray, think of God in this way!"

So, Brad, are you saying I shouldn't say the Lord's Prayer?

No, I'm not saying that at all! What I am saying is you shouldn't limit your praying to a prescribed prayer. I am saying realize prayer is a way to get to know God better if you learn this pattern. I am saying that prayer will become much more meaningful as you understand the picture of God presented by Jesus in this teaching.

Here is an example.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name" tells us two important truths about God. These are two amazing opportunities to get to know God through prayer. These are two great pictures of God!

First, God is approachable!

He is a Father Who lives in Heaven. But like a father He loves His children and longs to be with them (with you). He delights in having you call upon Him and commune through prayer. Tell Him your heart, your hurts and your hopes. Take time to listen to His whispers through His Spirit.

Second, God is awesome!

While God is approachable His Name is to be "hallowed". The word for hallowed is "hagios" or holy. You are to approach him with awe and wonder and humility and reverence.

You shouldn't approach your earthly father with disrespect. How much more "when you pray" should you approach your Heavenly Father reverently.

Do you see the pattern?

Do you see the picture?

When you pray will you let Jesus teach you to pray?

October 31, 2017

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray:" Matthew 6:5-9

You probably recognize this portion of Scripture as Jesus' thoughts leading up to the Lord's Prayer.

My preaching professor had a favorite statement he pounded into our heads, "A text without a context is a pretext."

Verses 5 though 9 provide the context for the Lord's Prayer.

Jesus begins his teaching on prayer by point out how they should NOT pray. "Don't pray like the hypocrites."

The disciples probably knew exactly what He meant by that but just in case they didn't Jesus got specific:

"Don't make a show of praying by going to public places to pray."

"Do go into a private place to do your praying to get along with your Father."

Prayer is intended to be a private and focused spiritual conversation with the Heavenly Father.

Did you notice a short phrase that is repeated several times in this portion of Scripture?

"When you pray......"

"When you pray......"

"When you pray......"

He didn't say "if you pray."

He didn't say "should you decide to pray."

Prayer is expected by God.

So, if you are expected to pray how should you expect to pray?

Jesus answered, "This is how you should pray....."

And then He taught them a pattern for prayer that has come to be known as "The Lord's Prayer".























Monday, October 30, 2017

October 30, 2017

"And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Matthew 14:32-33

These disciples had devoted their lives to Jesus and had followed Him 24/7 for the last few years. They knew that He was the Son of God and yet only after they were delivered from the storm did they cry out in worship "Truly you are the Son of God!"

What was that about?

It is our final Lake Lesson - You worship God better after you weather the storm.

Faith is a collaboration between the head and the heart. To have faith you must gain knowledge in your mind, but you also have to apply that knowledge to daily living. You encounter God in the Scriptures to understand His will and His ways, but you also must prove Him in the everyday issues and experiences of living. If His truth doesn't provide solutions for daily life then why believe it?

These water-logged disciples knew Who He was. Who He was was the very reason they were following Him. They had heard the teachings and seen the miracles watched His life and felt His touch. Just prior to getting into the boat on the other side of the lake they had witnessed a miraculous feeding of thousands. BUT, when He came to them and rescued them in midst of a terrible storm, they came to know Him in a new way. What they had known in their heart worked in the need of their life.

It was in the throes of one of the fiercest storms of a stormy life that I came to a new understanding of Who Jesus is. I have worshiped Him better since. While the waves were tossing me and the winds had turned against me I challenged God, "If these things I have been teaching about and preaching about for years don't work for me, I am out!" When they did work for me, I got in like never before! When I cried out to God, "I have lost everything that matters to me, all I have is You." God responded, "What else do you need?"

Are you in the middle of a storm? Are you struggling to stay afloat? Is your mind wanting to doubt what you heart wants to believe? Is the storm inside you greater than the storm around you?

You are ripe for a Lake Lesson! You are about to know God in knew ways as Jesus proves He is beyond belief, He is bigger than life! He knows where you are in the storm, He knows about the storm within you, He knows how to get to you, He is probably on the way right now, and when He gets there He will calm the storms. After He calms the storm you will believe stranger and worship better!

We worship better after we weather the storm!

Sunday, October 29, 2017

October 29, 2017

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:28-31

The ultimate result of thinking out of the boat for Peter was that - well, he got out of the boat! Once he realized that it was Jesus Who was coming to Him on the water he wanted to be with Jesus. The storm had not kept Jesus from getting to them, why should the storm keep him from Jesus? So when Jesus called Peter to get out of the boat - he did!

Peter stepped out of the boat and onto the storm-tossed waves and began walking on the water. Only two people I know about that ever walked on water. One of them was Jesus and the other was Peter! That is pretty select company, eh?

We don't really know how far Jesus walked over the waves but HE DID WALK ON WATER! He was so focused on getting to Jesus that he focus on the Savior rather than the storm.

Somewhere between where Jesus was and where the boat was, Peter momentarily took His eyes off of Jesus and began to sink under the waves.

What caused him to sink under the waves that He had just been walking on? Jesus identified the reason as doubt. But was it doubt in Jesus that brought him down or was it doubt in his own inability to walk on water?

I guess in the final analysis it really doesn't which it was, the fact remains he walked on water while He kept his focus on Jesus. But the moment he focused more on the storm and less on Jesus he went from being a walker to being a swimmer.

That brings us to our next Lake Lesson - When you are in the storm stay focused on Jesus! focusing on Jesus is the difference between being IN the storm and being ON it!

Saturday, October 28, 2017

October 28, 2017

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:28-31

The ultimate result of thinking out of the boat for Peter was that - well, he got out of the boat! Once he realized that it was Jesus Who was coming to Him on the water he wanted to be with Jesus. The storm had not kept Jesus from getting to them, why should the storm keep him from Jesus? So when Jesus called Peter to get out of the boat - he did!

Peter stepped out of the boat and onto the storm-tossed waves and began walking on the water. Only two people I know about that ever walked on water. One of them was Jesus and the other was Peter! That is pretty select company, eh?

We don't really know how far Jesus walked over the waves but HE DID WALK ON WATER! He was so focused on getting to Jesus that he focus on the Savior rather than the storm.

Somewhere between where Jesus was and where the boat was, Peter momentarily took His eyes off of Jesus and began to sink under the waves.

What caused him to sink under the waves that He had just been walking on? Jesus identified the reason as doubt. But was it doubt in Jesus that brought him down or was it doubt in his own inability to walk on water?

I guess in the final analysis it really doesn't which it was, the fact remains he walked on water while He kept his focus on Jesus. But the moment he focused more on the storm and less on Jesus he went from being a walker to being a swimmer.

That brings us to our next Lake Lesson - When you are in the storm stay focused on Jesus! focusing on Jesus is the difference between being IN the storm and being ON it!

Friday, October 27, 2017

Think Outside The Boat

"When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus." Matthew 14:26-29



Storms have a way of getting our attention. I guess that is why we ave these lessons on the lake. So far we have learned:

Lake Lesson #1 - During the storm it helps to know that Jesus put you in the boat.

Lake Lesson #2 - Jesus prayed for you while you are steering the boat.

Lake Lesson #3 - Jesus knows where we are in the storm.

Lake Lesson #4 - Jesus know the perfect time to come to us in the storm.

This morning I have another lesson for you. It is this: When In A Storm, Think Outside the Boat.

Because Jesus knew exactly where the disciples were and because He knew how to get there and because nothing could keep Him away, He came walking to them on the water! That's right! On the water through the storm!

If you were in a boat in a storm being blown by the wind and tossed by the waves, who would you most want to see? Jesus! 

Me too!

Well, He came walking on the waves through the wind and in the darkness. Apparently they weren't looking for Him because when He got in eyesight they thought they were seeing a ghost! They cried out in fear. 

What would you do?

Jesus called out to them so they would recognize Him. Peter did.

This is one of the points I want to make, we need to learn to look for Jesus in new ways. He is always doing new things and He loves to do them in new ways. Our tendency is to look for Jesus in the last place where He appeared to us. He rarely does that!
When you are in a storm things that work in calm weather don't always work. So, a storm can force you to think outside the boat and look for God in new ways and allow Him to come to you like He hasn't before.

If you are in a storm and the old things aren't working, think outside the boat! If you are looking for Jesus to move in the way He did last time, think outside the boat!

Also, thinking outside the boat will cause you to take some risks you have never taken before. Peter had never walked on water before. It had never occurred to him. Why would it?

But when he saw Jesus coming to them in the storm, he took a risk. He thought outside the boat and so he got outside the boat. Risky? Yes, but you know what? The boat was going to sink anyway as things were going! So maybe, getting out of the boat to go to Jesus wasn't that risky after all!

You may be just one big risk away from finding help in your storm!

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

October 26, 2017

"During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake."Matthew 14:25

We are learning some lake lessons. No, we are not studying issues related to large bodies of water, we are actually learning truths about Jesus based on how He responded to the disciples during a fierce storm. And it is all good!

So far we have learned:

Lake Lesson #1 - During the storm it helps to know that Jesus put you in the boat.

Lake Lesson #2 - Jesus prayed for you while you are steering the boat.

Lake Lesson #3 - Jesus knows where we are in the storm.

Lake Lesson #4 - Jesus know the perfect time to come to us in the storm.

Today we discover another great truth - Jesus knows how to get to us in the storm.

If you have ever watched Baywatch or any other show involving lifeguards you know that they have a variety of equipment designed to help them get to the swimmer in distress. Jesus had none of those items. He didn't need them. Actually, none of those would have helped Him against the mighty winds or the fierce waves. They would have been useless - maybe even dangerous.

Remember, this is Jesus we are talking about! How did He get across the lake to the disciples in distress? How did He navigate the waves and the winds? HE WALKED! That's right, Jesus strolled through the storm!

That assures us that Jesus not only knows where we are in the midst of our fiercest storms, He knows how to get to us! In fact, nothing can keep Him from you! As Paul affirmed in Romans 8, "If God is for us, who can be against us!" NOTHING!

Maybe you are weathering a storm right now. Perhaps life's winds are blowing against you and the waves are tossing you and you are doubting if you'll survive this storm. Take encouragement! Believe this truth proven by Jesus and confirmed by the disciples - JESUS KNOW HOW TO GET TO YOU IN THE STORM!

You will make because HE will make it to you!

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Lake Lesson

"During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake." Matthew 14:25



There is something kind of nice about a gentle Summer thunderstorm in the middle of the night. But as a general rule, we don't appreciate storms. For the most part we dread them and do our best to avoid them.

But in Matthew 14 we see how valuable a storm can be. These guys who had walked with Jesus and lived with Him 24/7 for several years, learned lessons about Him during the storm that they had not learned before.

Since all of us face storms in life and since, in fact, some of you are in the middle of a storm right now it is helpful to know that there a important life lessons that can be learned in a storm. To this point we have mentioned three:

Lake Lesson #1 - It makes a difference to know that you are in Jesus' boat when you're in a storm.

Lake Lesson #2 - Jesus prays for you while you steer the boat in the storm.

Lake Lesson #3 - Jesus always knows where you are in the storm.

Today we learn another helpful lesson - Jesus knows the perfect time to come to us in the storm.

Our text tells us that He came during the fourth watch of the night. If it mentions that in the Scriptural account it must be significant. And it is.

In the Jewish mind, the night was divided into four watches: watch one - 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.; watch two - 9:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.; watch three - 12:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m.; and watch four - 3:00 - 6:00 a.m. It is during that 3:00 to 6:00 a.m. period that Jesus came to them.

I recommend that you do a study on the fourth watch of the night. It is pretty interesting and inspiring. Just to wet your appetite let me tell you a few other things that happened during the fourth watch: the Israelites fled from Egypt during the fourth watch of the night, after the Death Angel had swept through in the third watch; the Red Sea closed on the Egyptian army destroying them during the fourth watch, and the stone was rolled away from in front of Jesus' tomb so He could arise from the dead!

Some significant things happened during the fourth watch! Another one was about to happen because Jesus headed off across the lake during the fourth watch!

Now let's just be honest about one of our frustrations with God, He never moves according to our time schedule! It always seems like He takes forever to come to our aid. We always wonder if we are going to make it before He steps in to bring relief. But let's also be honest to admit that every time we have thought that He came AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME! Look back on every storm you have weathered and you will marvel at how perfect His timing was!

If you are storm tossed today. If your boat is rocking and the wind is against you and the waves are batting you like a ping pong ball - remember that His timing is perfect and you may be in the fourth watch!

Monday, October 23, 2017

October 24, 2017

"but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it." Matthew 14:24

As I write this post, a storm rages outside. Wind and rain pounding my window.

I have been sharing a series of Lessons on the Lake, that the disciples learned from being in a terrible storm on the lake because storms are a part of life. Storms come in a variety of ways, financial storms, health storms, relationship storms, or spiritual storms will blow into your life from time to time. Learning these lessons will help you survive in the next storm you have to face.

Lesson One - When you are in a storm it helps to know that Jesus put you in the boat.

Lesson Two - Jesus prays for you while you steer the boat.

Today we will learn a third lesson, Jesus knows exactly where we are in the storm.

Jesus had place them in the boat on the lake and while they sailed He prayed. Somewhere near the middle of the lake, a storm blew in. The waves rose and the winds roared and the boat rocked and the disciples freaked! I don't blame them! They were in big trouble! The Scripture said, "they were buffeted by the waves and the wind was against them." Not good.

I'm sure that while they summoned all their skills to keep the boat upright in the water and the water out of the boat, they were wondering where Jesus was when they needed Him. The lake lesson they were about to learn was this: Jesus Knows Exactly Where You Are In The Storm! And He does!

They were far from the shore, they were bobbing like a cork, the spray from the water surrounded them, they couldn't see past the storm, but Jesus knew EXACTLY where they were in the storm.

When you are in the midst of a storm, if you know that He put you in the boat and that He is praying for you, you can also be certain that no matter how severely the storm is raging Jesus knows exactly where you are in the storm! You are never out of His sight or beyond His reach! It doesn't matter how lonely you feel or how fearful you are Lake Lesson Three is always true - Jesus Knows Where You Are In The Storm!

Hold on and ride out the storm, in the middle of the storm you have His full attention!

Sunday, October 22, 2017

October 23, 2017

"After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone," Matthew 14:23

So, Jesus put the disciples into the boat and sent them off to cross the lake while He went to pray alone. Yesterday we mentioned that it helps to know that we are in Jesus' boat when the storm comes. That was Lake Lesson number one.

Today we will learn another Lake Lesson.

The information gathered from this verse tells us that both Jesus and the disciples were doing what they did best. Jesus was praying and the disciples were boating. That sets up the opportunity for this lesson.
We know that the disciples were in the boat by the will of Jesus. He put them there. But we do not know if He gave them instructions on where to go or if they just took off on their own. Obviously, they intended to get to the other side.

The point is, they were steering the boat. It was a job they were familiar with and were comfortable doing. That is good - and bad! That is so much like us. We find the will of God and then take over the controls and begin steering the boat. How many times has God made His will plain to you and you began to follow His will feeling confident in where you were headed? But then how many times did your confidence become independence and you began steering the boat?

Easy to do isn't it!?

When you steer the boat trusting in your own knowledge, experience or wisdom, we are headed for a storm. Have you ever steered the boat for any extended period of time and not ended in a storm? Now, we don't know if this storm was spread over the entire lake or if it was localized and they steered into it. But we do know they were steering the boat and it ended in a storm.

Here's a tip from a veteran of many storms, when Jesus puts you into a boat, trust Him to guide you as you steer it. If you steer it based on your own judgement, your own experience or your own wisdom, you will end up in a storm.

So, the disciples were in the boat and steered it into an awful storm. What was Jesus doing while they were steering into the storm?

He was praying! No doubt, He was praying for them. Probably He was praying for them because He knew that they were steering the boat and that they were headed for trouble.

That is the Lake Lesson for today: Jesus prays for us while we steer the boat.

One of the main roles Jesus plays is that of Intercessor. That means He prays for you - and me.

Check out Hebrews 7 and Romans 8.

Isn't it good to know that as you try to navigate through the storms of life, Jesus is interceding for you?! Will you be encouraged by that knowledge? Would you seek His guidance and direction as you steer the ship? That way, if you steer into a storm you can know for sure that it is His will. Even better - invite Him into your boat and let Him steer it! BUT either way, you can rest in the confident knowledge that Jesus is praying for you, interceding for you to do God's will!

Lake Lesson #2 - Jesus prays for you while you steer the boat!

October 22, 2017

"Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd." Matthew 14:22

Much of life is spent between the storms. If you are not in a storm now, you will be. I am not being pessimistic, I am just being real!

In this portion of Scripture, the disciples were headed for a storm. Through this week in my posts on this blog, I am going to share with you some Lessons on the Lake, truths that they learned while in the storm on the lake.

A storm is a terrible thing to waste. If you have to weather a storm, you had best learn from it! I want to help you by sharing these daily lessons from the lake.

The first lesson is seen in verse 22 where Jesus put them into a boat and sent them off on the lake. That sets the stage for the first lake lesson:

LAKE LESSON #1 - When You Are In A Storm It Helps To Know You Are In His Boat

For the purposes of this lesson we are going to imply that the boat represents the will of God. I think that is a safe assumption since it was Jesus Who put them in the boat.

If you are in the midst of a storm right now, let me ask you, "Do you know that you are in the right boat?" If you are in a storm and you are in the will of God, that makes ALL the difference! If you are between storms in your life or if you see the storm clouds forming on the horizon, it would be a great time to stop and make sure you get in the right boat!

There are those who would claim that if you are in His boat then you will never be in a storm. They believe that it is God's responsibility to keep you safe, warm and dry and the only boat He would give you would be a yacht! Their theology states that God's responsibility to His people is make sure they have smooth sailing.

That theology just doesn't track with life nor does it mesh with this Scriptural account. The disciples were in the boat by the will of God and set sail in obedience to Him.

Lake lesson number assures us that when we are in the storm by His will, we can be sure of his protection! 

Do you believe that? 

Faith floats!

Friday, October 20, 2017

October 21, 2017

"Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell face down to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.  Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.  March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in. So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them. The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. 1But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there. Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city! The city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid the spies we sent. But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it. All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city." Joshua 5:13-6:1-20

THAT’S A FASCINATING AND INSPIRING STORY, PB, I’M GLAD YOU REMINDED ME OF IT! BUT THAT WAS SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, WHAT HAVE YOU GOT FOR ME TODAY?

ACTUALLY, QUITE A BIT! I’M GLAD YOU ASKED!

YOU ARE A WALL-BUILDER BY NATURE. SO AM I!

WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US OR DISAPPOINTS US OR BETRAYS US OUR NATURE IS TO BUILD UP WALLS OF ISOLATION. WE BUILD WALLS OF BITTNERNESS AND WALLS OF MISTRUST AND WALLS OF APPREHENSION. WE CONSTRUCT WALLS TO PROTECT OURSELVES FROM EVER BEING HURT AGAIN. WE KEEP EVERYONE AT A SAFE DISTANCE.

JESUS COMES TO THE OTHER SIDE OF EACH OF YOUR WALLS AND CALLS US TO INTIMACY WITH HIMSELF. WHEN THE WALL CRUSHER CONFRONTS A WALL BUILDER SOMETHING HAS TO CHANGE!
THERE MAY BE SOME HERE THIS MORNING WHO SECRETLY AND DEEPLY LONG FOR INTIMACY WITH GOD BUT YOU AREN’T SURE HOW TO GET OVER OR AROUND THE WALLS YOU’VE BUILT.

THAT’S WHY GOD ALSO CALLS YOU TO VULNERABILITY. HE INVITES YOU CUT A WINDOW IN YOUR WALL AND CHANCE A LOOK AND A LISTEN AT HIM. DROP YOUR DEFENSES FOR A MOMENT AND INVITE HIM OVER TO YOUR SIDE OF YOUR WALL.

IF YOU ARE NOT READY FOR INTIMACY WITH GOD THEN TRY A LITTLE VULNERABILITY AND SEE HOW HE RESPONDS. TAKE HIM AT HIS WORD. TRUST HIS PROMISES. SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

IN OUR 23 YEARS OF EXISTENCE, FREDWES HAS FACED NUMEROUS WALLS AND EACH TIME WE HAVE WATCHED THEM FALL! GOD HAS BEEN FAITHFUL TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS THAT STOOD BETWEEN WHERE WE WERE AND WHERE HE HAS PROMISED TO TAKE US. UP TO THIS DAY, EVERY WALL HAS FALLEN!

NOW WE ARE STARING AT ANOTHER WALL. A WALL OF RELOCATION. FOR NOW IT IS A TEMPORARY RELOCATION THAT WILL GET US TO OUR LONG-TERM LOCATION AT NEW POST. WE’RE GOING TO FCS FOR AWHILE WITH THE EXPECTATION OF IT MOVING CLOSER TO OUR EVENTUAL NEW POST LOCATION.

WHAT IF GOD PUTS THOSE WALLS IN FRONT OF US TO FORCE US TO DEAL WITH THE WALLS WITHIN US?

WHAT IF HE HAS PLACED THIS JERICHO IN FRONT OF US FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALLING US TO INTIMACY WITH HIM?

WHAT IF HE HAS PLACED THIS CHALLENGE BEFORE US TO CALL US TO GREATER VULNERABILITY WITH HIM? 

WHAT IF THIS WALL BEFORE US IS TO CALL US INTO A DEEPER AND MORE PROFOUND DEPENDENCY ON HIS POWER BECAUSE WE HAVE HIS PROMISE AND WE ARE TRYING TO LIVE OUT HIS PURPOSE?

WILL YOU DEVELOP A STRONGER INTIMACY WITH GOD? WILL YOU TEAR DOWN SOME OF THE WALLS THAT HAVE KEPT YOU FROM EXPERIENCING HIS PRESENCE?

ARE YOU WILLING TO BE MORE VULNERABLE BY TRUSTING HIM TO HELP YOU TEAR DOWN SOME OF YOUR INNER WALLS?

WILL YOU ASK HIM TO HELP YOU LEARN TO DEPEND ON HIM MORE AND ON YOURSELF MUCH, MUCH LESS?