Saturday, October 11, 2014

Will You Withstand The Coming Flood?

Our culture is replete with opportunities to know God's Word. How many Bibles do you have in your home? Our country is full of Christian and secular book stores, both that sell Bibles. If that were not enough, you can go on line and order Bibles. You can download Bible software and have any version of the Bible on your computer or mobile device. Most churches provide Bibles during their services. In America, there is no shortage of God's Word. It's a tremendous blessing to have God's Word available to us in abundance.

However, God's Word is powerless in book form alone. It is powerless printed on t-shirts alone. God's Word is impotent on plaques alone. God's Word must be applied to your life, and the lives of others in your realm. God didn't give us His Holy Word for decoration. He gave it for a reason. What is that specific reason? To be done; to be appropriated in your life.

Jesus gives us a valuable illustration of this in Luke 6:47-48. "Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built." This house was well built because it had been deeply founded on the rock. It had a solid foundation, and when the floods came...it stood! Are you preparing for the flood? Not to sound negative, or to scare anyone...but the floods of adversity are coming. The great news however, is that those who are founded on the rock (God's powerful Word) will not be shaken! They will stand!

How does one become founded on the rock of God's Word so that he/she stands the tests of life, and the onslaught of the enemy? Jesus said first, "Come to Me." It starts by being a follower of Jesus Christ. This means being born again of the Spirit of God. It means being a genuine Christian, one who has surrendered his/her life to Jesus. Second, a genuine Christian must hear God's Word. God gives to the genuine believer a hunger for His Word. A craving if you will, to read, study, and even memorize His Word. Third, and very crucial, those believers who will withstand the coming torrent will be those who act on the Word of God.

To act on the Word is to appropriate or apply the Word to every situation in your life. You cannot appropriate the Word of God without knowing the Word of God. God's Word is meant to be spoken, not just by preachers, but by believers. God's Word spoken over a person or situation is God's Word applied to that person or situation. God's Word applied to that person or situation becomes the rock on which they stand.

Listen to this powerful passage of Scripture from Isaiah 55:10-11: "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." God's Word is His desire...and comes out of His mouth. But it is powerless if it falls on deaf ears. It is powerless if it is heard and not applied.

God said His Word is like rain and snow that waters the earth. As a result plants bear, furnishing seed and bread to the one who sows. Rain and snow fall for a reason. They have purpose and impact. So does God's Word. When appropriated in your life by speaking it, God's Word is returned to God, accomplishing its specific purpose. That's why God provides Words that apply to any situation we will ever face.

The need to know His Word in these last days is crucial. Nothing this world offers you is more important or significant to you that knowing and applying His Word. The coming events of the latter days will soon determine who will stand and who will be swept away. Are you preparing? Are you building your house on the rock? (More to come.)

Monday, October 6, 2014

A Challenge To Go Beyond Yourself

Christmas is a very special time involving family and friends. It is the time for decorations, good holiday meals, and gift-giving. It is truly a special time of the year. But the greatest thing about Christmas of course, is that it is the designated season in which we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is all about Him and His humble coming to the earth. A Christmas celebrated with Jesus at its center it truly one of peace and joy.

When the office parties have finished; when the church parties are all over...most folks turn inward to celebrate Christmas with family. This is not a bad thing. But it brings me to the point of this post: THE CHALLENGE TO GO BEYOND YOURSELF.

This year I offer to you the opportunity to step outside of your realm and help someone less fortunate. As a matter of fact...I challenge you. I want to help the families of the children Harvest Celebration Ministries sponsors. And if possible, this Christmas I want to help some of the children in Honduras that we don't normally sponsor by providing a gift for them as well. Most of these precious folks live in the small, remote village of Concordia.

Most of us will spend a lot of money this Christmas on gifts. Please consider helping someone beyond your realm. This is the challenge to go beyond yourself!

If you can help, visit www.harvcel.com and click the "Donate" button at the top left of the page. This will link you to PayPal, the most secure way to donate. All the monies we raise in October and November will go directly to this project. Any amount will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your consideration!

Steve Hutto