There's a Blessing in the Fire

Tuesday, November 20, 2012 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

1 Pet. 1:6, In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7]  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

According to our text, trials, even those that grieve us, serve a purpose. The “genuineness” of our faith must be cultivated. God does not want to see whether are not we have faith. He knows that we have some level of faith. God wants to cultivate and make our faith grow. Our faith is our confidence in God. Our faith is our trust in his word and acting on the word. Our faith is also what we believe, and how our beliefs impact how we live.

Greek definition of genuineness is “dokimion:” 1) the proving  2) that by which something is tried or proved, a test; like the crucible of a furnace for smelting.

We know Peter is not talking about a consuming fire because the text says, “Tested by fire.” God’s consuming fire does not come to test, but to judge, consume and destroy. Peter is describing a refining fire.

Let’s understand refining fire: In Mark 9:49 Jesus said, “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.” We know that salt "seasons" by acting as an influencing agent, whether for seasoning or as a preservative.

Steel becomes stainless steel by the "seasoning" of fire while adding chromium.  All forms of iron and steel will rust when exposed to the elements, but stainless steel will not rust or corrode. Why? Stainless steel does not rust because it has undergone a “seasoning with fire.”

God helps us arrive at a state where we do not corrode under exposure to the elements of life. This happens as our faith is "seasoned" by God's refining fire. The highest aim for cultivating our faith is not to get more stuff. The highest aim and purpose of faith, according to the text, takes us to a place where we can be “found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Here’s the highest aim and purpose of your faith: “Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” 

At every station in life, at all times good and bad, but especially in bad times. When we are in the fire of adversity, We know that God’s refining fire is make us and our faith stronger! Though we do not see Jesus, we continue to love Him!

Peter went on to say, "Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory."

This should be our aim of life with God! 

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Click to here to listen message from 11-18-2012 by Bryan Hudson: "Blessing in the Fire."

How to Have Joy & Breakthrough When You Need It

Tuesday, November 13, 2012 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Phil. 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always [at all times]. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God

When we learn to rejoice, we won't be anxious. There is no "don't worry" switch. Rejoicing, praying, not worrying, and being at peace, is a lifestyle pattern. Develop your pattern.

We all remember the "Miracle on the Hudson River" in January of 2009, in which Capt. Sully safely landed his airplane that had lost power after geese flew into the engines. His 29 years of flying, doing checklists, honing his skills, and controlling his emotions––including anxiety––allowed him to follow his pattern of training in an emergency. All the lives were saved.

Through rejoicing and prayer with thanksgiving, you will have joy and breakthrough when you need it.

Listen to message: "How to Have Joy & Breakthrough When You Need It."




Be at "Rest" Even While you Work

Wednesday, November 07, 2012 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest.


The concept of "resting in the Lord" is very important. It is not a posture of doing nothing. It is an attitude of trust towards God. One of the best definitions I heard for the word "rest" as used in this text is, "Using the power of another." If I am offered a free ride in a limousine to reach a destination, the last thing I'm going to do is get out and start pushing it! Use the power provided. Enjoy the ride!

Israel heard the "gospel" or good news of a Promised Land flowing with "milk and honey," which is a term signifying abundance and blessing. Numbers Chapter 13 tells the sad story of the 12 spies God sent to look at the land that God told them was blessed. Hint: If God tells you that something is blessed and good, believe Him!

When 10 of the spies saw the giants in the land, they began to complain about the Promised Land, as of God didn't know about the giants. They also saw themselves as powerless to deal with the giants, which is another problem with not resting in the Lord.

Because they did not "mix faith" with the promise, these 10 spies became fearful and negative. As a result, they did not enter into the rest of the Lord and they missed out on the blessing of the Promise Land for a whole generation.

Let's learn from the mistakes of those 10 spies and hold to the same confession of the two faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb, who said, "We are well able to overcome them!"

It's all about whose power you are going to use!  Exercise your faith in God's Word, use His power!



Why Didn't God Answer Prayers to Elect Mitt Romney?

Wednesday, November 07, 2012 Bryan Hudson 15 Comments



This morning I read an article in Charisma Magazine online entitled, "Does Romney Loss Mean God Didn’t Answer Our Prayers?"

Many conservative Christians are distressed that Mitt Romney did not win the presidential election, especially after praying that he would. Other believers prophesied that he would win. Still others said that a vote for Obama was a vote for abortion and gay marriage.

Now that the smoke is clearing, and the reality of President Obama has been re-elected is sinking in, let me offer my response to the question: "Does Romney Loss Mean God Didn’t Answer Our Prayers?"

What does this mean? It means that God does not listen to us on matters pertaining to "times and seasons." He only listens to the "counsel of His on will." Ephesians 1:11 says, "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will."

Neither President Obama, nor any other pro-choice person or supporter of gay marriage, can prevent us from preaching the gospel, dealing with promiscuity (even among believers), and helping women in crisis pregnancies choose life.

We should have more confidence in what God can do through us, than in politicians, who ultimately do very little on biblical issues. We wasted too much of our time, money, energy, and even some of our prayers on politics. If we become too loyal to a political party, we may lose our prophetic edge and become co-opted by a lesser agenda.

In politics, we don't vote for spiritual leaders. We vote for men and women who we think are most qualified to do THEIR job, not OUR job.

I know this seems inconceivable to some Christians, but God can use President Obama to help the country in ways that Christians cannot, such as ordering the killing of Bin Laden and scores of terrorists. By contrast, I couldn't imagine Rev. Mike Huckabee being as ruthless against terrorists as President Obama (and he has been VERY lethal in this regard!) I could imagine some Christian politicians believing that intercessory prayer is all we need to deal with terrorism.

POTUS is not a spiritual office. It is an office that requires taking actions that some "righteous" people would not feel inclined to do. We're going to have to accept that civil government is not a pastoral ministry.

I believe It was to our long-term benefit that a Mormon was not elected to the highest office in the land. Having the comfort of hearing someone "say" that he is "pro-life" and "anti-gay marriage" does not solve all our problems.

"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." (1 Cor. 4:5)

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Related Articles:
Voting for "Biblical Values" 
Hard Truths to Face for Politically Motivated Believers
Ten Suggestions For Better Race Relations and Less Black Stereotyping




Vote. It Cost To Much to Do Otherwise.

Tuesday, November 06, 2012 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments


What to do When You Feel Out of Place

Friday, November 02, 2012 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Jeremiah sent a letter to the people of God who were captive in Babylon. They were not in the place where they wanted to be, but in the place where God, and their decisions, had brought them.

God intends for us to be blessed, live in peace, and be fruitful in every place or situation in which we find ourselves. It is a test of our maturity and a validation of God's faithfulness.

Jeremiah 29:7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.

So what do you do when you feel out of place? Bring peace to that place!