From trials to triumph because of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

1 Pet 4:1-13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.”

Serving the Lord is the most significant experience we will ever have in this life. We can learn about the Lord and ourselves during troubled times.

Trials – teach us we are not all-powerful, and we need the omnipotent Lord. Paul tells in II Cor 12 when I'm weak then I'm strong.

Trials – teaches us sin brings pain, destruction, and deception. But Jesus came to save us from a life of selfishness to a life of selflessness.  

Trials – teaches us that evil exists and that we're in a spiritual war.

When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer. - Corrie Ten Boom.

The Power of Sin is no Match For The Power Of Jesus Christ

Sin’s power is not merely making bad choices or doing things we know we shouldn’t. It is as if an evil power has invaded the territory of each person’s spirit and taken control, “sold into slavery under sin,” as Paul puts it in Rom. 7:14. Under this slavery to sin, we are unable to do the good called for in the commandments and known in our hearts (Rom. 7:15–20). This occurs despite our good intentions to do what God desires (Rom. 7:15–16).

In other words, knowledge of what is good is not enough to overcome the power of sin that has invaded us! “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do” (Rom. 7:19.) We can be rescued from this plight only by the intervention of another, more powerful spiritual force—the Holy Spirit who becomes the focus in Romans 8.

Thank God for the power of Jesus Christ that destroys the power of sin!

Thomas Watson: "Till sin be bitter, Christ will not be sweet." (The Doctrine of Repentance)

The Cleansing Power of Christ

The cleansing power of Christ from sin is extended to us through His finished work on the cross.

Eph 4:17 The Bible calls this “futility” or “darkness” of the mind.

Only through the work of God in regeneration can a person suddenly see and understand properly. This new life in Christ gives us the ability to change our direction and conduct.

Rom 8:7-8 For the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

"The fall into sin has caused humanity to ignore and deny their Creator. Sin has affected our minds and causes our thinking to become futile apart from Christ. This effect of sin upon our minds is known in theology as the 'noetic effects of sin.'" ~ Ligonier

Sin is something we all deal with in this world. The Bible tells us all have sinned, apart from Jesus, we are slaves to sin, but Jesus broke that bondage through His sacrifice on the cross; as we abide in Him, the grace necessary to change direction is provided.  Thank you, Jesus.

All growth that is not toward God is growing to decay -  George Macdonald

This is the time to serve the Lord with all our heart, these are the final days, and the rapture is coming.

The only remedy for spiritual apathy is the truth of God’s Word. Jesus said, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

(Matt. 26:56 Peter denied Christ (26:69-75), Corinthian believers lived in sin (2 Cor. 12:20-21 the Church in Asia became lukewarm (Rev. 2:4 Rev. 14-15)

Many of us are hunting mice - while lions devour the land. - Leonard Ravenhill

Jesus, King of Kings

Matt 2:13-15, And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

The religious leaders, the Roman Government, and Herod tried to eliminate Jesus Christ and Christianity from the face of the earth, but the resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything.

And here we go again, they will try to destroy Christianity, but they forgot one important thing: the power of the resurrected Jesus Christ. The antichrist cannot come into power until the Holy Spirit is taken out of this world, we call this the rapture. I just want to remind believers that Christ Jesus is King of Kings. 2 Thess 2:-1 - 17, Paul reminds us not to be soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word. V.7 Lawlessness and deception is already at work. V.8 The Lord shall destroy the wicked one, the antichrist, with the brightness of His coming. V. 6-7 This antichrist has no power until the Holy Spirit is taken from this world. So, believers in Christ, if there is ever a day to proclaim Jesus is Lord and Savior, this is that day.

While many try to ignore Jesus, when He returns in power and might, this will be impossible.

- Michael Youssef

Lead Me to The Rock That Is Higher Than I

Ps 6:2-4 : Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak

O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: But thou, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: Oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.

The psalmist calls on Yahweh for deliverance. Using three Hebrew terms that can be translated “turn” (shuv), “deliver” (chalats), and “save” (yasha’), David calls out to Yahweh to deliver his life.

Each of us must confront our own fears and must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it. - Judy Blume

F.E.A.R. has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’  The choice is yours.  Zig Ziglar

Ps 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.
In uncertain times the Lord is our refuge. Refuge—literally, "a place of trust." God's Kingdom is a mighty fortress and is stable in all storms. Refuge the Hebrew word used here, machseh, which refers to a place of refuge, creates an image of a stronghold or impenetrable fortress. God’s help is always accessible or available, a very present help in time of trouble. 
“His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on. Raised in His power the weak become strong. His strength is perfect” ~ Jerry Salley & Steven Curtis Chapman
 
You'll never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have. Are you in the wilderness? Find refuge in God's presence. Find comfort in his people. - Author: Max Lucado
 
Father, even though life seems like an earthquake, and the waters of life feel like they are going to overtake us, and what looks like utter chaos, you are our refuge and strength teach us to trust you.

Potter's House Church of God

500 Sandy Hollow Road
Mystic, CT 06355