Harbor Rock Tabernacle

As believers, it can be all too easy to take for granted what Jesus has done for us, rather than being amazed every day. Paul was concerned that the Colossians might be prone to do that, so he focuses right at the start on the fact that Jesus has rescued us from the pit of sin, redeemed us by buying us and forgiving us, relocated us from the domain of the darkness to His Kingdom, and reconciled us to Him forever. These powerful truths change our perspective, how we live and the ministry we have to others. 

In his most Christ-centered letter, the apostle Paul teaching young believers how to live because of what Jesus has done.  Because the message of the Gospel is most effective when given by people whose faith and love is open and obvious, Paul calls believers to assess how faithfully we are living for Christ.  We need to be filled with Him, pleasing Him in everything, bearing fruit and living by His power.

Very few of us enjoy waiting and being patient, because we want our way and get frustrated when people and circumstances get in our way. But how do we respond when the Lord causes the delay? Multiple times after the Resurrection, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit. Those 50 days were valuable, as they learned to wait and pray, The humility and refocusing of priorities built strength into their hearts, minds and ministry that we desperately need.  Video of this service is also available:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5LTVXbxrG8&t=3689s

 Mankind tends to view hope as wishing for something with some degree of uncertainty, but the Bible defines it as "joyful and confident expectation". That all centers on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But in the aftermath of the cross, Jesus' disciples lost hope, and were depressed...to the point that at first, they didn't believe the news that the tomb was empty. But slowly, they remembered His words, and when they saw Him alive, it radically transformed their lives and their ministry, because His resurrection changed everything. 

When he met Jesus, the Roman governor Pilate had a dilemma--he knew Jesus was innocent, but the crowds demanded punishment. Pilate ignored warnings and didn't seek truth even though it was right in front of him, and unsuccessfully tried to wash his hands of any guilt. It's a stark contrast to the humility and sacrifice Jesus had shown in washing the disciples' feet 12 hours earlier, and exemplifies the difference between the heart of God and the heart of man. 

Half of the verses in the 3 Gospel texts about Jesus' "Palm Sunday" entrance into Jerusalem focus on getting the donkey He rode, fulfilling prophecy. For each of the components of the scene--the 2 disciples, the owners, the 2 donkeys and the ropes--there are important spiritual principles about trust and obedience, yielding control, compliance and being free to be utilized by the Lord. So are we prepared and available when "the Lord has need of us"? 

As believers, Christ has secured us to experience eternal victory, but He has also provided for us to live in victory now. But like the Israelites in the Old Testament, sometimes we act with subtle insubordination, looking at the obstacles and opposition as excuses to partially obey. When Israel occupied the Promised Land, the tribe of Manasseh was hesitant...but the Lord called them to take full possession, trusting Him for HIs help and victory. Similarly, we are to drive out sin and persuade people to trust Christ with their lives. 

The aggressive promotion of self-focus, victimhood and not taking responsibility is a method the devil is using to corrupt the culture, but also to discourage Christians. But we have to fight this, always remembering and secure that with the Lord, there is always victory and no defeat. We have to make sure we're not walking in darkness and being overwhelmed by the spiritual attack, by constantly trusting and praising the Lord for His faithful sufficiency.   Video of this service is also available:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmYgzLeY4n4&t=29s

The preparation, planning and passion that surfers model can teach and inspire us to greater faithfulness and effectiveness in our walk. This includes understanding how world events align with Scripture, enduring with fearless conviction and confidence in God's victory in times of temptation and attack, and being on the crest of what the Lord is doing. Even more than surfers, our dedication to the Lord is our life, and we are called to fully commit to it with joy.  Video of this service is also available:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSqrdBv5ijs&t=4013s

Giving is often an area of confusion and uncertainty for believers. Do we follow the Old Testament model of tithing plus offerings, or did the New Covenant free us from obligatory percentages? The fact that the average churchgoer gives under 3% indicates a problem. The goal is not numbers, but a willing and joyful heart, understanding that everything is the Lord's, and we have the opportunity to be generous and share in what He is doing.

It is amazing what Jesus has done to save us and give us new life. He has secured victory over sin and death, and promises that true believers have overcome the world. So it is shocking that there is an epidemic of spiritual, emotional, mental and relational paralysis among believers!  We don't have to be overwhelmed and weakened by the world and difficulty, because the Lord enables us to prevail as "more than conquerors". So consistent victory in our lives is determined by the depth of our faith and how we define "overcome". 

As change takes place in society, sometimes we aren't given the option to accept what has changed. While the advancements are more convenient and requires less of us, they can also gradually condition us to new thoughts and behaviors.  As believers, we have to guard against this concept in terms of the enemy's attempts to acclimate our heart and mind to doubt the Lord and compromise our convictions for what is expedient and fulfills us.  Solomon's life stands as our warning, as he went from a wise, blessed king to someone who turned his back on the Lord.

Hezekiah had a great start as the King of Judah--rejecting his dad's evil example, tearing down what offended the Lord and restoring the temple. The foundation for this was his strong trust in the Lord, to Whom Hezekiah "clung". This concept of adhering to and obeying evokes a young child or a rock climber. The latter has to be intentional in which rocks they grab and which path they take to move higher, without wasting energy. Showing our trust and commitment to the Lord in this way gives us confidence, courage and clarity.  (Video of this service is also available on our YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq3ogBG9-_g)

The Lord calls us to more than just knowing Truth and understanding what is expected of us--He calls believers to action. He has taught us how to do what is right, and instead of being a burden it is a source of joy and strength. Hezekiah was one of the few good kings of Judah, and ignoring his father's evil example, he chose to reform the nation spiritually and practically, by courageously aligning himself with what pleased the Lord. For us to do this requires us to be strong in our conviction and bold in speaking truth with love. 

As we seek discernment and the Lord's leading, there is often a need to wait on Him. But many of us struggle with impatience, which can be a result of the need for control and even a lack of wisdom. The Lord promises His goodness, kindness and faithfulness to those who fear Him, so He calls us to trust Him, and to wait for Him with all our soul. We can confidently do this because we know Who He is, and how He has worked in the past. But first, we have to yield our overconfidence in self, rejoicing in His help and protection. 

When the wise men told Herod that the Messiah had been born, he and the people of Israel should have been thrilled. But Herod felt that his power was threatened, and lied to the wise men that he also wanted to worship Jesus. When our heart is proud and not yielded to the Lord, it shows up in deception, irrational overreaction and lack of sensitivity toward others. So it is vital that we ask the Lord to help us walk in truth and stand firm for our faith. 

As believers, it is vital that we have discernment from the Lord. This means the ability to hear from the Lord, so we can distinguish was it wise and right, so we can faithfully obey Him. After he asked for and received wisdom from the Lord, Solomon wrote "proverbs" to those who love Him. He exhorted us to seek for and cry for wisdom, treating it like a great treasure that is sometimes only found in the depths of faith. When we do, the Lord has wisdom stored up that He wants to give to us, acting to protect us from harm. 

After the shepherds heard about Jesus' birth, they were excited to go see Him and have their angel's message of salvation verified. But what would people think when they started talking about the message and the experience? Would they been seen as crazy, and rejected in society? Especially in an increasingly hostile and punitive culture, Christians may feel hesitant to share their faith. But everyone needs the Good News, and whether they receive it or not, we are still called to tell them about Jesus. 

One of the great fears in life is the fear of change. As a believer, we often wonder, "what if the Lord calls me to something different or difficult?" When Mary received the news from the angel, her natural instinct would have been fear and many questions. But because the Lord's hand was on her life, and because she feared the Lord more than her circumstances, she was willing to live as a bondservant. She gives us a powerful example of confident trust and surrender to the Lord's will. 

Joseph, the man called to the huge responsibility of being the earthly father of Jesus Christ, never says one word in the Bible. But his actions sets a powerful example of righteous character, unquestioning faith and faithful obedience. Facing his own personal fears, as well as social criticism and the risk of his career, Joseph still immediately honored the Lord and embraced the sacrifice of living in the Lord's will.