Four year old Jude Hicks sat next to his father, Jarrett Hicks, and sang,
“God of Jacob, Great I Am, King of angels, Son of Man
Voice of many waters, Song of Heaven’s throne
Louder than thunder, Make Your glory known”
The power of our children singing and leading in worship was evident in this Jude’s solo and the other children singing, dancing and praising the Lord.
Pastor Michel Espinoza, children’s pastor, emphasized the importance of worship. “Worship is a foundation.” He added that kids may remember worship even more than the Bible stories. Then he called up Zeland, a twelve year old who has been coming to Faith Chapel with his family for four months. Zeland stated that he enjoyed FC youth on Wednesdays and the kindness that the youth leaders showed. Also he pointed out that they are training “spiritual warriors that will share how the blind see and the lame walk.” What a testimony! Finally, Pastor Michel called up the little children and showed them a video about vacation Bible school which will be held from June 24-27. He invited those who wanted to volunteer
to a meeting on March 23 at 12:20.
When Pastor Michel was young, he went to the beach with a friend, and they decided to go in the water. He was swimming, but he was going no where. He kept on trying to move closer to shore with no success. Pastor Michel was caught in a rip tide and remembered he needed to swim parallel to the shore to get to safety. Eventually he did reach shore, but it taught him a valuable lesson in moving but going nowhere.
Moses and the Israelites experienced that same sensation. They had escaped Egypt and four hundred years of slavery. The Lord had given them a home, the Promised Land. “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.” Exodus 13:21 However, when they arrived, Moses sent out twelve men to examine the land. Ten returned with fear; two, Caleb and Joshua, encouraged the Israelites to go and conquer the “land flowing with milk and honey.” The others had forgotten all the miracles the Lord had performed in their journey like opening the Red Sea. Because the fear spread from the ten, the Israelites
complained and rejected Caleb and Joshua’s positive message. What should have taken eleven days took them forty years. The Israelites wandered in the desert for decades because of their unbelief, disobedience, and fear. Movement does not mean you are moving forward.
In contrast Jesus “was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
Matthew 4:1 Jesus was fasting in the wilderness for forty days, and it can be a frightening place. Yet it can be a place of refining and shaping to be more like God. The devil tempted the Lord Jesus Christ with food, safety, kingdoms. But Jesus warded him off as He cited the Word of God. He was victorious against the evil one. Jesus said to him,
“Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord
your God and serve him only.’
The devil left him, and angels came and attended him.”
Matthew 4:10-11 (NIV)
Jesus’ stating the Lord’s words repelled satan. May we know His Words and use them to walk according to His will. Let us not just wander. Let us let the Spirit lead us.
Paul encouraged the Ephesians,”Awake, you who sleep. Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:14 Charles Spurgeon stated,
“This sleepiness in the Christian is exceedingly dangerous,
too, because he can do a great deal while he is asleep
that will make him look as if he were quite awake.”
What does that mean? If we are just going through the motions of worshipping God, reading His Word, and attending services but do not have real heart transformation, we are only surface level believers. Is that being authentic and having true heart transformation? Does our fruit show a heart dedicated to the Lord or dedicated to looking like a believer?
How do we wake up? “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8 You can ask yourself these two questions: “Am I getting closer to God? Am I walking in my calling?”
Are you putting into practice what the Lord is telling you in His Word? Are you hungry to sit with the Author of the Word? Are you hungry to “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1
How do I offer my body as a living sacrifice? Daily I need and want to spend time with Him to learn how to live and be like Jesus, surrendered and listening to the Lord. One way to live like Jesus is to love our enemies. To love those that have said horrible things about you or have been disrespectful to you is humanly impossible but supernaturally possible. Praying for those who persecute you is a supernatural action. Jesus did that on the cross. As He hung between heaven and earth, He asked the Father to forgive them. He wants all of us to be in His family. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 What a Savior!
The closer we get to the perfect God, the more we see how much we need Him and how flawed we are. But even in our brokenness He came, and since He came, we can learn how to be more like Him. “We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 When we learn to love Him, we can make Him first, and He can be in every aspect of our lives. That is what making Him first means. He is in our family, our jobs, our friends, our free time.
In being a Christ follower, you are either moving closer to Him or further from Him. It is not a stagnant situation. Where do you want to be? You can ask the Lord what He wants you to do or be because God can use you. Ask the Lord for a vision and ask Him to be with you as you do His will. Pastor Michel received God’s calling in fifth grade, and he never questioned it even though he had several intervening jobs. He kept on studying and working until he was called to be children’s pastor. He had visions of what he wanted to do, but he did not know how to get there. He advised us to take a step of faith like he did, and the Lord will provide.
“A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9 Step out in faith as the Spirit leads you.
May we listen to and follow His Spirit and be salt and light in this troubled world.
Calendar:
3/21-LB potluck, worship and Pastor Michel’s grandmother, Irene Villa speaking
3/22-Women’s dinner and speaker
4/11-LB potluck and Meet to Swap with proceeds supporting FC Youth
5/16-LB potluck and …..
Submitted by
Larry and Annette Linthicum
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