Harbor Rock Tabernacle

When you have a crisis or trial, do you get despondent and give up, or deepen your dependence on the Lord. An unbelieving widow in 1 Kings 17 endured three painful tragedies, but when the prophet Elijah called her to seemingly unreasonable faith, according to God's miraculous promise, she boldly believed in the Lord's provision, and experienced a profound expression of His goodness and care. This challenges us not to linger in "why?", but to be confident that the Lord will work. 

Often we people help us, we infer negative ulterior motives that aren't true. This can lead us to unnecessarily alienate relationships. When we realize our mistake, it's far better to apologize and seek forgiveness, unlike a man named Hanun, who dug in his heels against King David and escalated the situation. When offended, we need to recognize how often we've been the offender, and offer forgiveness that it being sought, instead of hypocritically holding people to an unfair standard.  Video of this service is also available:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHpwJhAg30E&t=2394s

Spiritual and psychological attack is a fact of life for every believer. In the life of King Hezekiah, we see a strong response: Doing what is right in the Lord's sight, tearing down "idols" and clinging to the Lord in faith. The Lord responds to that with His presence and power. But it will also invite internal and external opposition, seeking to undermine God's Word, character and promises. But when we cry out to the Lord, He answers and protects us from the attack, giving us victory.  Video of this service is also available:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fTBy16DB-s&t=2758s

Just as sports teams are notorious for creating subtle strategic advantages, the devil works to keep us unstable & emotionally discouraged by trying to undermine our faith. The account of Gideon in Judges shows how thoroughly insecurity and fear can infiltrate our thinking, but also how the Lord convincingly shows His sufficiency. Gideon seemed an unlikely leader, full of feelings of inadequacy, but the Lord doesn’t value prominence–He evaluates the heart. Once Gideon believed the Lord at His Word, and received verification to give him confidence, he learned that nothing is impossible with the Lord. This reminds us to only listen to the voice we can trust–the Lord’s. Video of this service is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9NlSgWWAWk

The church in Corinth was full of pride, worldliness and lack of love for the Lord and others. But at the end of his first letter of correction and admonition to them, the apostle Paul draws attention to a family who exemplified living for Christ. “The house of Stephanas” was the first family Paul had led to faith in Greece, and as they matured as disciples, they embodied 4 simple characteristics which show us the power of lives dedicated to Christ. Their obvious faith, devotion to ministry and sacrificial service “refreshed” Paul and those around them, and stands as a powerful example we must follow. Video of this service is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDqVeKDtS6E

Sometimes as believers, especially when we are struggling, we talk about the need to "make Jesus a priority"...but that gives the connotation that He's just an important item on the "to do" list. A man who met Jesus seemed to view it that way--he had lived in great obedience to the Law, but he wasn't willing to trust Jesus fully by giving up his many possessions in order to follow Him. Many people live this "hybrid spirituality", like an electric car that sometimes acts in their own power and other times under God's. But we can't truly walk by faith if we're clinging to material security. Once we meet Jesus, we know living for Him is a far better option than anything else.

When the news spread that Jesus’ tomb was empty on the 3rd day–just as He had foretold–several theories started to be purported: That He was still dead and HIs Body had been stolen, or that He didn’t actually die on the cross and recovered elsewhere, or that the Jews had destroyed His Body so the disciples could never find Him. But those theories had significant, logical problems…not to mention that hundreds of people started to see Him around Jerusalem and Galilee. The grave was empty because Jesus was alive! There are 5 implications that result from that–powerful Truths that literally transform our lives. But they are only a result of trusting the risen Saviour, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Video of this service is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFAMt0mebI0

Harbor Rock Tabernacle-0531. The Solution. Philippians 4:6-7 Pastor Paul Rhoads

Pastor Paul Rhoads Harbor Rock Tabernacle Racine, WI December 26, 2010