Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

What a blessing it is to be a part of God's family!

Psalms 84:10 (NIV), A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else! I would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of my God than live the good life in the homes of the wicked. 11 For the LORD God is our light and protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will the LORD withhold from those who do what is right. 12 O LORD Almighty, happy are those who trust in you.

We who live in our Father's House always live better than those who have the so-called "good life" in wicked places. Quality of life is not measured by how much stuff one has, but by our connection to the Lord. Because we are connected to God, we have access to all His stuff! As the text says, "No good thing will he withhold from those who do what is right."

Isaiah 43:19, Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert....21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.

Every new assignment and journey in God requires a paradigm shift. A lot of our methods, habits, and ways of thinking and acting have to change. A paradigm is a model or pattern. Some of our paradigms are out of touch with God’s plan and purpose for our lives.

A paradigm shift puts you in position to function at a new, higher, and better level.

Listen to the teaching on the FirmFoundation Podcast

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/firm-foundation-with-bryan-hudson/id81271386?mt=2&i=1000412321604

Psalms 146:1 Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, I tell myself. 2 I will praise the LORD as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God even with my dying breath. 3 Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. 4 When their breathing stops, they return to the earth, and in a moment all their plans come to an end.

I remember listening to one of my minister friends many years ago sharing a story during the course of his message. He talked about the tendency for people to "name drop" or bring up the names of important people in a conversation.

In his recounting of the story, someone asked him, "Do you know _____ (name of important person)?" He said, "No." The person asked again, "Do you know_____ (name of another important person)?" Again he said, "No."

He then added, "I know God."

David said, "Don't put your trust in powerful people, there is no help for you there."

I've learned that lesson more than once. Powerful people who do not know God tend to be concerned mostly about preserving their power. Also, the "power" of so-called powerful people is limited to natural things or spiritual darkness.

The most powerful person of all, God (Father, Son, & Holy Spirit), is only concerned about helping you and me.

Isa 43:19, Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert....21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.

A paradigm is an example serving as a model or pattern. A paradigm shift is an important change that happens when the usual way of thinking and doing is replaced by a new and different way.

On this side of the paradigm we only know the way things have been and the way that things are. Only other side of your paradigm there is innovation, creation, and new levels of provision.

One of the ways to detect a paradigm shift in progress is when God challenges your comfort zone. God begins to challenge your methods and call for doing things differently. A shift is coming when you begin looking at things that have seemed useless, neglected, and barren, like a wilderness. Complaining brings a mandatory paradigm shift because God will not tolerate complaining. It is an indication of a bad mindset.

Every new assignment and journey in God requires a paradigm shift. A lot of our methods, habits, and ways of thinking and acting have to change.

Look for new things in "barren" places. God is already working on your behalf!

Jeremiah 48:11 Moab has been at ease from his youth; He has settled on his dregs, And has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, Nor has he gone into captivity. Therefore his taste remained in him, And his scent has not changed. 12 “There- fore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I shall send him wine-workers Who will tip him over and empty his vessels and break the bottles.”

This text shows the dangers of complacency, or of being unwilling to change for the better. Moab has been “at ease” or living in comfort. On its face, being comfortable is not an evil condition, but it comes with its own dangers.

God designed us to grow and develop, not remain the same. “Dregs” are the sediment that gather at the bottom of a container of wine. Filtering wine is necessary for preserving the flavor and maintaining its purity. Wine is filtered when carefully emptied from one vessel to an- other, resulting in the dregs being left behind. When God allows us to be emptied out, the purpose is to leave something undesirable behind, and to enhance our “flavor” and purity.

Note some of the key words in the text that describe the condition:

“At ease” ~ Unchallenged, not growing to maturity
“Settled on his dregs” ~ An unchanged state, dwelling in things that can eventually bring ruin
“Taste has remained” ~ Old appetites and desires continue
“Scent has not changed” ~ No difference that can be detected by others

What is the solution? God sends “wine-workers” such as pastors, preachers, prophets, and teachers to “tip him over.” Being tipped over is God's way of helping people change.

When we do not voluntarily practice emptying ourselves in God's presence, we get tipped over by one of God's servants who brings a word from the Lord. Sometimes circumstances do the tipping over. Also, to help us not return to our former ways, God allows the “bottles” to be broken.

Are you at ease today? Go empty yourself before Him, or be emptied by Him.

Key insight I gained today:

Today’s action item based on insight: