And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.” (Exodus 14:15)
A situation could not be much more difficult than what Israel faced. Behind them they saw an angry pursuing army, and before them they saw an impassable body of water. As we like to say today, “it was a rock and a hard place.“ Great danger was on their mind.
God’s instruction to Moses was, “Go forward." I like to think of this as “A place called Forward.” What Moses and the people did not consider in their moment of crisis was that God had something on His mind.
“Go forward" is an invitation to engage with God in order to experience his plan, His power and His supernatural resources.
1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
I woke up this morning with a feeling of uncertainty. This is something we all feel sometimes, I learned a long time ago not to trust in my feelings, but to trust in God. The first Scripture in today’s devotional reading was 1 Corinthians 2:9. It was both timely and encouraging!
This text makes it clear that uncertainty is entirely normal since we cannot know the future. We cannot know in advance all the good things God has prepared for those of us who love God. Over the past several weeks, I’ve been studying and teaching about "open doors" (Revelation 3:7-8) and principles that empower us to recognize and walk through doors of opportunity, blessing, and purpose.
So there is certainty within uncertainty. Though eye has not seen, ear has not heard, and we may not presently be aware, there is a profound and certain truth: He has prepared things for those who love Him!
God’s love for you and your love for Him is all the certainty we ever need!
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Listen to the teaching "Preparing Your Heart & Life for Increase" on the Firm Foundation Podcast:
Podbean: https://bryanhudson.podbean.com/e/preparing-your-heart-life-for-increase/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/firm-foundation-with-bryan-hudson/id81271386?mt=2
TuneIn: https://tunein.com/radio/Firm-Foundation-with-Bryan-Hudson-p1088629/
Revelation 3:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name."
Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. 2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters. 3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive blessing from the Lord, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face. Selah 7 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? the Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.
In 2018, there are open doors for you; doors of opportunity, doors of new and renewed relationships, doors leading to growth and increase, and most of all, doors into the presence of God! When David wrote, “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors,” he was talking about the gates and doors of your heart and mind. When you “ascend” into God’s “hill” (His presence) and open your heart, the mighty “King of glory” comes in, bringing His strength and helping you win every battle!
My message,“Open Doors For You in 2018," delivered at New Covenant Church on the first Sunday of 2018 will bless and inspire you!
Listen to the Teaching:
Direct MP3 link: http://www.newcovenant.org/mp3/Open_Doors_2018.mp3
Podcast App Links:
Shine for Christ: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16
Pray: "…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective" (James 5:16).
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints" (Ephesians 6:18).
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" (Romans 8:26).
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Pray for others: "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy" Colossians 1:9
Walk with the wise: "Don't reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you" Proverbs 9:8,
Maintain Forward Focus: "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13
Begin and Work with Victory in Mind: "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place." 2 Corinthians 2:14
Empower Others: "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." Hebrews 6:10
Prayer continues to be the constant in a world of change. God’s truth withstands every test of time. These realities came into focus for me during the final week of this year 2017.
During my devotional time on December 27, while reflecting on 2017 and looking forward to 2018, a song written by Darlene Zschech, former Hillsong worship leader illuminated this Scripture from John 19:28-30 as Jesus hung on the cross,
Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Jesus said, “It is finished!”
Question: What was finished or done? Answer: Everything related His mission and your victory!
Jesus stated His mission: "For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me" (John 6:38).
He stated His position: ”Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me'" (John 14:6).
Below are part of the lyrics to the song “At The Cross” by Darlene Zschech from 2006 (Here is a lyric video of that song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLgQWpxZ-eg)
At the cross You died for me
Where Your blood was shed for me
There's no greater love than this
You have overcome the grave
Your glory fills the highest place
What can separate me now
You tore the veil
You made a way
When You said that it is done
In view of whatever challenges and opportunities we face, know that Jesus’ words “It is finished!” and the giving up of His Spirit in death brought us life and new beginnings. This reality is revealed in three ways.
1. You tore the veil: The veil was a curtain in the Jewish temple that separated the most holy place from the holy place and outer court. When Jesus spoke the words “It is finished” and gave up His Spirit, that veil was split from top the bottom. (Matthew 27:51). This signaled the end of law and the emergence of grace. It signaled that human power needs the greater power of Christ, who is the Life Giver and Purpose Fulfiller.
2. You made a way: What was impossible under the old order of law (salvation and a new birth), is now possible under the new order of grace. Whatever you thought was impossible, unachievable, overwhelming, out-of-reach, or insurmountable is now possible. Jesus made the way!
3. When Jesus said that “it is done”: What was “done” was both His mission to save us and His ongoing grace to empower us, open doors, remove the darkness of dispair, and create “beauty from ashes,” and reveal to you new pathways of victory!
The Scottish biblical scholar William Barclay offers a remarkable insight in his commentary on Jesus words "It is finished." The gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke record that Jesus let out a "shout" or "cried out" before giving up his Spirit in death. Only John records the words, "It is finished!"
Barclay writes: "The explanation is that the great shout and the words, "It is finished," are one and the same thing. "It is finished" is one word in Greek--tetelestai (GSN5055)--and Jesus died with a shout of triumph on his lips. He did not say, "It is finished," in weary defeat; he said it as one who shouts for joy because the victory is won. He seemed to be broken on the Cross, but he knew that his victory was won.
"It is finished!" were words of victory, not words of resignation and defeat! You may feel broken or defeated, but it only seems that way. The FACT is this: Because Jesus finished his mission, your victory and mission have already begun! The Lord has opened doors for you that no one can shut.
This insight has become part of my vision for 2018 and what I will share with our New Covenant Church congregation on Sunday, January 7. “It is Finished. A New Beginning. Total Victory.”
Happy New Year!
~ Bryan Hudson
