Arise and Abide

In this inspiring episode of Arise + Abide, hosts Curtis and Sally delve into Psalm 93, exploring the majestic and unshakeable nature of God's kingship. The episode begins with Curtis affirming the imagery of God robed in majesty, whose reign over the world is steadfast and eternal. Sally adds depth by reflecting on the symbolic stability that God provides in a world full of chaos and tumult, likening it to the unshakable foundations of a fortress amid stormy seas. The discussion turns contemplative as they relate the scriptures to personal experiences and popular culture, with Curtis sharing an anecdote about the overwhelming power of waves at an amusement park, illustrating how, despite the chaos of life, God's might is greater than the most formidable natural forces. The episode concludes on a reflective note with Sally drawing parallels between the biblical promises and the parable of building one's house on rock versus sand, emphasizing the permanence and purity of God’s laws compared to the fleeting, changeable nature of human decrees. Listeners are left with a sense of comfort and certainty in the eternal stability offered by God's reign, making a spiritually enriching experience for those seeking solace in their faith amidst the uncertainties of life.

In this enlightening episode of Arise + Abide, hosts Sally and Curtis delve into the intricate narrative of 1 Kings 21, focusing on the story of Naboth’s Vineyard. The episode begins with a contextual backdrop provided by Curtis and Sally, recounting the events of 1 Kings 20, where King Ahab's interactions with Ben-hadad set the stage for the subsequent moral and ethical dilemmas faced by Ahab. The main scripture reading brings to light the covetous nature of King Ahab towards Naboth’s vineyard, his subsequent sullen and angry demeanor upon being denied, and the manipulative tactics employed by his wife, Jezebel, to falsely accuse Naboth, leading to his unjust death and Ahab’s temporary acquisition of the vineyard. Sally and Curtis unpack the multifaceted layers of this story, emphasizing the contrast between worldly expectations of kingship and the divine expectations set by God. They highlight Ahab's struggle with contentment, his susceptibility to influence—particularly by Jezebel—and his eventual act of repentance. Despite Ahab’s deep-seated flaws and his significant moral failings, which marked him as one of the most evil kings, his story is also a testament to the possibilities of redemption and the boundless mercy of God. The hosts also explore the broader biblical theme of servant leadership exemplified by Jesus, juxtaposing it with the worldly notion of power and entitlement. This episode not only offers a thorough analysis of the biblical text but also serves as a reflective lens on leadership, the human condition, and the transformative power of humility and repentance before God. Listeners are left with a poignant reminder of the promise of God's mercy and grace, as encapsulated in the benediction from James 4:10, urging us to humble ourselves before the Lord to be lifted in honor. This episode of Arise + Abide enriches the understanding of 1 Kings 21 with its deep dive into the complexities of human nature, divine justice, and the ever-present hope for redemption.

In this uplifting episode of Arise + Abide, hosts Curtis and Sally embark on a spiritual journey through the resonant verses of Psalms 92, a hymn dedicated to Sabbath Day worship. As they unfold the scripture, listeners are invited into a profound exploration of gratitude, worship, and the steadfast love and faithfulness of the Lord. The episode begins with a warm welcome and quickly transitions into a reflective reading of Psalms 92, highlighting the importance of giving thanks and proclaiming God's love from morning till evening. Curtis and Sally passionately discuss the psalm's vivid imagery of worship that spans the entire day, emphasizing the joy and thrill of recognizing God's magnificent works and deep thoughts. As the conversation deepens, the hosts examine the contrasting fortunes of the wicked and the righteous, noting the psalmist's assurance that while evil may flourish temporarily, it is ultimately transient in the face of God's eternal exaltation. They underscore the promise of strength and flourishing bestowed upon those who trust in the Lord, drawing parallels to biblical wisdom that cautions against rejoicing in the downfall of one's enemies. The dialogue gracefully shifts to discussing the battle against spiritual wickedness, with Sally invoking Ephesians 6:12 to remind listeners that the real fight is against the dark powers of this world. They stress the importance of wearing the full armor of God, standing firm in the promise of divine justice and goodness. Curtis captures the essence of the psalm's promises, emphasizing the hopeful and enduring nature of God's faithfulness, particularly the capacity to bear fruit even in old age. This promise of vitality and spiritual growth despite life's challenges resonates as a core message of the episode. Concluding with a benediction from Ephesians 6:23-24, Curtis and Sally leave their audience with a sense of peace, love, and grace, encouraging them to hold onto the eternal promise of worship and the unfailing love of Jesus Christ. This episode is not just a study but an invitation to engage in all-day worship, reflecting on the beauty of God's works and the depth of His love.

This podcast episode from "Arise + Abide" features hosts Sally and Curtis delving into the narrative of 1 Kings Chapter 20, where Ben-Hadad, the king of Aram, lays siege to Samaria, the capital of Israel. The episode unfolds with a contextual setup from 1 Kings 19, introducing the prophet Elisha's commitment to follow Elijah, symbolizing a complete dedication to God's calling. Transitioning to the main scripture, Sally and Curtis narrate the tale of aggression by Ben-Hadad towards Israel and King Ahab's initial submission to his demands, followed by a divine intervention where God promises victory to Israel, showcasing His omnipotence not just over the hills but also the plains. The hosts reflect on King Ahab's flawed leadership, highlighting his susceptibility to external influences and lack of steadfast faith in God, despite witnessing miraculous victories. They emphasize the contrast between Ahab's desire for acceptance among earthly kings and God's intent for Israel to represent His sovereignty. The podcast sheds light on Ahab's missed opportunities for repentance and trust in God, using the treaty with Ben-Hadad as a metaphor for misplaced trust in worldly powers over divine providence. The episode also explores the broader theme of God's relentless efforts to reveal Himself to His people, urging them to recognize His lordship in every aspect of life. Through the analysis of Ahab's experiences, Sally and Curtis aim to inspire listeners to acknowledge God's presence in their lives, encouraging a shift in focus from earthly challenges to divine guidance and victory. The podcast concludes with a benediction, reminding listeners of their heavenly citizenship and the eternal life hidden with Christ, urging them to set their sights on divine realities over earthly distractions. This episode offers a deep dive into the complexities of faith, leadership, and divine intervention, providing valuable lessons on trust, obedience, and the recognition of God's sovereignty.

Reading Psalms 91. In this Psalm, we see a picture of God as our shelter, our refuge, the safe place that we can trust in. There's also just this beautiful image of the feathers. Normally, feathers could be comforting, but they're not necessarily going to protect you from an attack like an arrow coming in. So, I kind of imagine the outside of the feathers being like armor. Jewish tradition attributes it to Moses as opposed to David believing that David added it to this book of Psalms later, because of the experience Moses had when the Lord passed by him on the mountain. Verse 11 for He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go, is the verse Satan quotes to Jesus when he's tempting him in the wilderness. Jesus responds, it is said, don't put the Lord your God to the test, which is from Deuteronomy 6:16. This psalm right here is about making shelter in God. I'm trusting in God remaining in him and as we go through it, which we will, trials and tribulations will come. But what does this word say? Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrows that fly by day. Arrows are flying by day. Disease is stalking at night. And God says that when they call on me, I will answer, I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation. So, it's knowing that truth of God, that His promises are true and that He is with us.

Reading 1 Kings 19:19-21. Elijah throwing the cloak over Elisha’s shoulders and walking away as an act of surrender. The action spoke for itself and was a symbolic gesture of Elijah passing on his prophetic authority to Elisha. There wasn't much more for Elijah to say about it in that moment. Elisha responds with celebration. But we also see that Elisah is destroying the job that he had. It is symbolic that Elisha is done with this part in his life. He’s not going back. Four times in the scripture, in Mark 8:34, in Matthew 8:18, in Luke 9:57, and in Luke 14:27. And Jesus teaches that there is a cost to following Him. It is a wholehearted following. Luke 9:62 Jesus tells them, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the kingdom of God”. Here we see Elisah burning his plow from his previous life. There is this true cost to following Jesus that Jesus was not shy about in his teaching. He's talking about following Jesus as putting your hand to the plow, so, it's still work. Romans 5:3-5, We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. God gives directions to Elijah and though it will be hard, there’s hope.

Reading Psalms 90. You see this glimpse into Moses’ heart with this psalm and his understanding of reality, it's an awareness of how precious life is how brief life is. Now that Christ has come and died on the cross, all of God's wrath was poured out onto Christ on the cross and is no longer poured out onto us. God is our refuge. God sees all the pain that we go through the trials we go through. But God also sees our hearts and the sins of our heart. We have a God who is beyond time, a God who is completely just, a God who understands and can help us to realize the brevity of life so that we can grow in wisdom. Before I started following Christ, the secret sins would be the things that I would think that I was getting away with, but in Christ, those secret sins are the things that we want Christ to work out of our life. I thank God for the discipline that He gives the correction that He brings. But it's only effective in our lives if it produces growth if it produces change. Without growth, we simply stay where we are. Life is brief and so many of the things that people fill life with is completely meaningless. When we're young we don't consider that our days are numbered. As we get older, looking back to our youth we understand and we tell the youth, take advantage of these days because we understand that that time lasts only a certain time. Although our bodies are dying, which I can definitely relate to as we get older, our spirits are being renewed each day and God is teaching us to fix our eyes on things that can't be seen.

Reading 1Kings 19:9-18. The Lords question, “What are you doing here?”, reminds Sally of Jesus asking the people who came to Him what they wanted Him to do for them. God gives people opportunities to share their hearts with Him.  God displays His power to Elijah but speaks to Elijah through a gentle whisper, gives him encouragement and renews his mission. The Lord’s question, “What are you doing here?”, reminds Curits of when God asked Adam and Eve, “Where are you?”. Elijah was in a place of discouragement because he was living in fear having taken his eyes off God. Elijah was afraid of people, and God reminded Elijah who really has the power. Elijah’s reply was all about himself. People tend to forget that God is at work. He is working is ways we know nothing about and in ways we can’t see. Elijah believed a lie we are all susceptible to: You are all alone and it is all up to you. That is a lie. God is enough. Go and make disciples, go and train your replacement, go and duplicate what you have been given. We are all replaceable, in the best possible way. We grow and we move onward. God is not just telling Elijah to go and pour into anther person, God is giving him a partner, and a helper to continue the mission with. When we're in a place of discouragement. It's hard to see the Lord because all we can see are the things that are discouraging to us. God listens, the way God hears us, understands the heart we're coming from, and encourages us in the way that we need to bring our eyes back to the truth that God is at work. God is doing things that we aren't paying attention to. He's at work in ways that we don't see, even when our eyes are on God. 

Reading Psalms 89. The Psalmist recognizes the faithfulness of God through hard discipline. Speaking about the anointed king, it says “you have renounced your covenant with him and thrown his crown in the dust.” So there's definitely this shift at the end of the Psalm where the psalmist is really feeling that separation from God and the lack of God's favor in the current circumstance. Deuteronomy 8:5-6 reads, “Think about it, just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good. So, obey the commands of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and fearing Him.” Job 5:17-18, read. “But consider the joy of those corrected by God, do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin for when He wounds, He also bandages, He strikes, but His hands also heal.” God sent Jesus because we desperately needed a savior because we mess up all the time. When we are experiencing God's discipline, how do we respond? The books of Kings and the story centers around this truth that the one who deserves to sit on the throne is God. Think about discipline as this opportunity for refinement and self-awareness. Take that opportunity to listen and be self-aware of what God may be trying to say and teach. We need a savior. God gave us a savior. We need discipline. God gave us His Holy Spirit to correct us and convict us every moment of the day. 2 Samuel 7:14 “I will be his father and he will be my son. If he sins, I will correct and discipline him with the rod like any father would do.”

Reading 1 Kings 18:41-19:9. In 1 Kings 18:16-40, we read about a dramatic showdown between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. This portion of scripture (verse 41) starts with Elijah telling Ahab to go get something to eat and drink for I hear a mighty rainstorm is coming and Ahab immediately goes. It’s almost as though Ahab is displaying some faith, but it’s disappointing because Ahab sides with Jezebel. Elijah knew how and when to offer a sacrifice pleasing to God because Elijah spent time with the Lord and in the Torah. All the Prophets of Baal are killed just like the prophets of the Lord were executed. Now the story is full circle as Elijah is once again running and hiding because Jezebel wants him dead. The rain is coming, but it doesn’t happen right away. There’s this time of prayer, consistency of prayer. Seven times he prayed and sent his assistant to look for the clouds. It's frustrating when you give everything you have and then you look and even when God shows up, it looks like it hasn't made a difference because people's hearts are so hard. Despite how great of a prophet and how much confidence Elijah had in God and how fervently he prayed, he still found himself discouraged in his circumstances. And what I love about this story is he's not rebuked because of it. He's comforted. God shows up and feeds him, gives him strength. Why does God call us into all these things that are beyond us? So that we will draw close to Him. So that we will learn to rely on God. So that we will learn that God is good, that we will learn, we can trust God to carry us through all these things. We have to remind ourselves that God is the common denominator in every victory of our life. God is the one who strengthens us to go through it. But we must pick up our feet and go. God gives us strength because He has a journey ahead of us.

Reading Psalms 88. The last line in the Psalm, “darkness is my closest friend”, reminds me of that old song, Sound of Silence. The psalmist is experiencing the sound of silence. He's not hearing from the Lord. Quite a few psalms in this book express times like this when they feel desperate. It still starts with remembering who God is and where its salvation comes from. When we're in this heart place, cry out to God and share that with God. The Psalmist’s questions show the need for Jesus as Jesus raises us from the darkness. I see Jesus coming as an answer to this call to be saved. The Psalmist recognized that without God's presence, he was as good as dead. how this Psalmist felt lines up a lot with what Jesus went through and felt for us. He went through the same pain this time of isolation from God and literal death so that we could live. God's light is so freeing and life giving. We have to surrender the things that we might be holding on to that are keeping us in darkness or those things we don't want to be exposed to the light. Jesus is challenging people to step into His life that gives life and freedom.

Reading 1 Kings 18:16-40. We have this picture of the people of Israel who are wavering, hobbling back and forth between: Is it the Lord that is God, or is it Baal? We also have this picture of a God who hears and a God who answers, versus these idols who obviously can't do anything because they're manmade. We see that the heart of God in this contest is to bring the people back to Himself.  They're wobbling, they're back and forth and He is calling them back into that relationship because that's the heart of God. If you only look at the miracle you miss the heart of God behind the miracle, God is a God of love who is wooing His people back to Himself. God responds with such quickness because of his great love for these people who have been faltering. There are two opinions, and we know that Jezebel has led a lot of this other opinion. Jezebel saying, “is the Lord really God, my God is Baal.” I think people make idols. An easier way for us to think about it sometimes is thinking about how we put ourselves or somebody else on the throne that belongs to God, that we follow somebody else or follow our own selfish plan for our life. God is a God who answers. and God is a God who hears us. He sees us, He's moving, He's working. God is answering his people when He has their attention and they're listening. I think we know that God always sees and hears. God is always moving and working, and He has a plan and He's answering. But sometimes it requires us to listen and give him our attention.

Reading Psalms 87. The imagery of foreign and oppressive nations being counted as citizens of God’s Holy city is prophetic. Reminiscent of the account in Acts 10 Peter’s vision and God telling him not to call unclean what God has made clean. Being told to kill and eat was to prepare his mind to go to the gentiles and participate in what God was doing. the place where God's name would be known where everybody would come to worship. It was the place that the Lord picked for them to come and worship Him. He loves Jerusalem. It's this place dear to His heart that he establishes the place where his name would be known. It shows God's heart how He wanted everyone to know Him. Acts 11:15-18. “Who am I to get in God's way?” To receive something, I need to have my hands available to receive it. God’s Holy Spirit is not a physical object that we're receiving. However, to receive the Holy Spirit, we must let go of our way, whatever selfish temperament we might be in. Being citizens of Jerusalem, it's our life source, our source of joy. We're left with this promise. And this image of the joy that comes from God that He gives to all his citizens of Jerusalem.

Reading 1 Kings 18:1-15. The drought had been going on for three years and times had gotten desperate. King Ahab and Obadiah searching the land for the kings’ animals to have water.  This is the turning point. These two servants of the Lord who are in this hard situation and responding very differently. Obadiah who did something amazing for the Lord. He risked his own life, his own position in charge of the palace. He risks it all to save 100 prophets. In that act of service, he positions himself to live in fear, fear of someone finding out, fear that he's going to lose his own life. Elijah had every good reason to be afraid for his life, going and appearing before King Ahab. It’s a good picture of finding yourself living in fear because you have this feeling that you're kind of just hanging on and something's going to snap and then it'll all fall down. When we feel attacked by the enemy who wants us to live in fear, we forget, that’s why God is always reminding us and why we need established rhythms for redirecting ourselves back to God. Let God’s character define your circumstance and not the other way around. The price is that you're going to go through it, but there's options here, there's two paths you can take as you go through it. God is our resource. He is the bread of life. He's all that we need. God moves at the right time.  

Reading Psalms 86, a psalm of David. In verse 11, “Teach me your ways. Oh Lord, that I may live according to your truth, grant me purity of heart so that I may honor you.” David is looking to God for discipleship. In verse 15, he's speaking to God's character. “Oh Lord, you are a God of compassion and mercy, slowly get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” Exodus 34:5-7. David wanted the closeness with God Moses had. This psalm is just such a great reminder of that character of God love just wanting to be there to help us just like those of us who are parents, we want to be there to help our Children. We're always ready to forgive them. And the Psalm is such a beautiful picture of God's character. Put in the time and the effort and seek the Lord with all your heart it's part of the discipline of learning to trust the Lord. It goes back to the beginning of the psalm where David is saying, help me because I need your help, protect me because I'm devoted to you. I serve you and I trust you. I'm calling on you constantly. And that's the position that we need to be in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in. He will answer this prayer of your heart. If you to ask God to teach you His ways that you can live according to His truth, that He will grant you purity of heart so that you will honor Him. God will do this in your life. It is a promise straight from God that describes himself and his character as slow to anger filled with unfailing love and faithfulness and he wants to lavish his love on 1000 generations.

Reading 1 Kings 17 in the New Living Translation. Elijah declares that as surely as the Lord, the God of Israel lives the God. I serve, there will be no do or reign during the next few years until I give the word. Ahab had married Jezebel and they had started serving Baal who was a god who was supposed to bring the rain. God is faithful, God grows our faith and uses that growth in our life to increase the faith of others. Elijah, through his experiences, is telling her that God is a God that can be trusted and that she doesn't need to be afraid. She felt her sin was leaving her unworthy of the sustaining of life that God was giving her. God's presence does convict, and it does call for a change in our heart and we see this change in the woman's faith and her belief through the struggles and the trials that she's going through. Elijah understood his identity and his purpose. He was available to God and had his ear turned towards God. It's ok that we ask God and admit to God that our circumstances don't make sense to us and that we need his help. James 5:13. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah’s example, the length of time and trials that he continued to pray through and the wonderful results that he saw. It's relying on God through difficult times that helps us persevere through the trials, and it's through the trials that God grows our faith. God is with you as you go through the hard times.

Reading Psalms 85 in the New Living Translation. Start your day as the psalmist begins this psalm, with praise and worship. Being intentional with our thoughts and placing them before Jesus. To follow Jesus, we must stop talking, and listen. Verse 13, Righteousness goes as a Herald before him preparing the way for his steps. When we are in right relationship with God, He can more effectively use us for His plan. God is both loving, but He always is speaking truth. Through Jesus we have this opportunity to be in right relationship with God because we do have this need for a savior to be restored. The cost of being a disciple is to submit our lives to the life and teaching of Jesus to walk life out in his footsteps. John 14:25 lines up well with Psalms 85:8. God is good. He sent the advocate to guide us, to lead us in what he would have us to do to love him and love others. To not just listen, but also follow. You can trust God that God is with you. You can trust God, that God is for you. You can trust God to His word as it says in verse 12 of Psalm 85. “Yes, the Lord pours down his blessings. Our land will yield its beautiful harvest. Righteousness goes as a herald before him preparing the way for His steps.”

Reading 1 Kings 15:32-16:34. God gave people free will in the garden and humanity has continued to choose their own way. As people continue in this pattern we move farther and farther away for the righteous standards of God. Omri did more evil than any king before him, until his son Ahab becomes king and outdoes his father’s sins. I see this picture that God is the one who places the king in their position. But it's followed by this story of the kings just trying to fight and take over the throne on their own power. And when they do that, it never turns out well for them. The mentality of ‘I'm going to make myself king’ isn't really that uncommon, considering all the people who want to make themselves kings of their own lives. Luke 14:35. We must give up everything to God. God was angry because the leaders were leading Israel to sin by building these calves like Jeroboam. We see with Ahab that he marries Jezebel and sets up places of worship to Baal. It was reminding me of when Jesus talked about leaders in Matthew chapter 18, verse six, he says, “if anyone causes one of these little ones, those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large mill stone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.”God is true to his word even when we don't see it fulfilled in our own lifetime.

Reading Psalms 84. Recognizing God’s goodness in life. It is in the presence of God that we experience the good life. We enter through repentance. Change perspective in the hard times back to the goodness of God. The picture of someone who wants to draw near to the LORD. The imagery of provision and protection. God’s heart is for people, and for people to experience the fullness of God’s goodness. All relationships require building trust. Jesus teaches us not to worry and instead trust God’s provision in the sermon on the mount. In Revelation 21:3 we see the promise of God dwelling with His people and now, while we wait for Jesus’ return, we get to experience being the dwelling place of God as His Holy Spirit dwells in us. Life is a trust building journey the Lord is carrying us through. Ephesians 2:19-22, we are God’s dwelling place together joined in the body of Christ.

Reading 1 Kings 15:9-31. In this reading, we see a picture of two kings, one of Judah, one of Israel. Nadab who had a short-lived reign or reign of only two years compared to Asa who had a reign of 41 years. Nadab did what was evil in the Lord's sight and followed the example of his father. King Asa made a choice to follow after God. They thought they had come up with the solution they need, but nothing has changed. These idols are manmade things that are elevated instead of God. It's about humbling ourselves and lifting up God. 2 Chronicles, chapter 16, in verse 12, “In the 39th year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord's help but turned only to his physicians.” So, despite this long reign, a long life, in the end he's distracted, his eyes are taken off the Lord. He goes to the king of Aram for protection. He goes to doctors and physicians for healing when he should have been going to God. Without God's Holy Spirit to bring God's own word and truth back to remembrance, we are stuck in the same pattern. God is good. It's lowering these things that we make ourselves and elevating God, letting him bring us up, giving all of our cares and worries to him because he cares about us.