Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

My daily Old Testament devotional reading is still in the book of Job. We know about all of the pontificating (speaking in a pompous manner) from Job's friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar, and Elihu. We also know that Job went to that same place.

When I first read the book of Job many years ago, it seemed that most of the statements were interesting and profound, but I wondered why God was silent, until arriving to Chapter 38.

It starts like this....
1 Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:
2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?..."

God went on to ask 60 questions they could not answer!

When going through a difficult place, sometimes the worst thing we can do is talk too much or let others talk more than they should. Elihu's speech alone covered Chapters 32 to 37.

There were two things that Job and this friends lacked, and we lack: UNDERSTANDING and PERSPECTIVE. There is mystery to many of the things that we suffer. Some things are not mysterious because our mistakes are obvious.

We have limited understanding and limited perception. God has ultimate understanding and knows the end from the beginning. So the best thing we can do is continue to seek the Lord, live with integrity, stay close to Christ and his church, and wait on the Lord. Most of all is no when they keep silent, not to be confused with speaking the truth in love.

"The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." (Habakkuk 2:20)

Have a blessed and fruitful day!

~ Bryan Hudson

My OT devotional reading has been “stuck” in the Book of Job. :-) Not my favorite book in the Bible, but it is part of the daily devotional reading and it is the word of God. (We know there are parts of the Bible we would rather skip over!)

This verse was interesting:
“A lamp is despised in the thought of one who is at ease; It is made ready for those whose feet slip.” (Job 12:5)

In this text, Job was starting to answer the criticism of his “friends.“ (They were more helpful when they were silent!)

My insight: This verse warns against spiritual arrogance and the complacency of the comfortable. When you are going through a hard place, the things (lamp) you depend on are neither understood nor appreciated by people who are “at ease” – unaffected by things that affect you.

Your lamp is there to guide you when (not if) your feet slip.

Action Items:
1. Gravitate to real friends. People who love at all times. (Prov. 17:17)
2. Criticizers are only spectators – like trolls on social media
3. Know your “lamps” – your sources of strength.

“Power of the Lord Always Present”

LISTEN

Listen to the Message from Sunday, June 22, 2025

"Honor's Reward: How Doors of Blessing Open"

Summary of Talk #175"Power of the Lord Always Present"

by Bryan Hudson, DMin

Luke 5:17, Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. 20 When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you"

This message highlights the truth that God’s power is always present wherever His presence is. Drawing from Luke 5:17, where Jesus taught among Pharisees and religious leaders, the Scripture notes, “the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” However, healing didn’t happen automatically—it required faith and action.

The story of the paralyzed man lowered through the roof by his friends shows how persistent, active faith can tap into God’s healing power. Jesus responded not to passivity, but to visible faith. He forgave the man’s sins, resulting in both spiritual and physical healing, demonstrating that healing of the soul and body are often connected.

Key takeaways:
• The Lord’s power is always available when He is present.
• That power must be activated by faith.
• Faith requires action—not just belief, but effort and persistence.
• Jesus doesn’t always “pray” for healing; sometimes He simply declares wholeness.
• Let your actions reflect faith, as “faith without works is dead”

LINK TO PREVIOUS FIRM FOUNDATION INSPIRATION MINUTE TALKS

________________

Donate to New Covenant Church: https://cash.app/$newcovenantindy

Sow seed to Pastor Bryan Hudson, https://cash.app/$BryanIndy

DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES

MESSAGE SUMMARY

LISTEN TO PODCAST

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

Final Takeaways:

• Honor opens doors of blessing.

• Dishonor, especially rooted in familiarity or misunderstanding, closes those doors.

• Faith acts, and honor releases what God has placed in others for your benefit.

• Always honor God, His people, and His process — not for their sake only, but for your own growth and blessing.

Donate to New Covenant Church: https://cash.app/$newcovenantindy
Sow seed to Pastor Bryan Hudson, https://cash.app/$BryanIndy

“Honor’s Reward”

LISTEN

Listen to the Message from Sunday, June 16, 2025

"Legacy of Love" - Father's Day Message

Summary of "Honor’s Reward" by Pastor Bryan Hudson, DMin

Mark 6:1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.” 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief.

Bryan Hudson's talk, Honor’s Reward, draws from Mark 6:1–6, where Jesus is dishonored in His hometown and thus unable to perform many miracles. Hudson highlights that it wasn't Jesus’ unwillingness but the people's lack of honor that restrained His power. He explains that honor means to value, appreciate, and respect, whereas dishonor is treating something or someone as common or ordinary.

Because the people saw Jesus only as “Mary’s son” and not as the Messiah, they failed to receive the fullness of what He came to offer. Hudson connects this principle to daily life: you can only receive to the extent that you are willing to honor—whether it's God, people, or opportunities. He warns that like the Pharisees, people can honor God with their lips but remain far from Him in heart, missing out on His blessings.

The key takeaway: Honor unlocks potential and blessing; dishonor shuts it down. Let honor be both heartfelt and practical to experience God’s best.

LINK TO PREVIOUS FIRM FOUNDATION INSPIRATION MINUTE TALKS

________________

Donate to New Covenant Church: https://cash.app/$newcovenantindy

Sow seed to Pastor Bryan Hudson, https://cash.app/$BryanIndy