Lead Me to The Rock That Is Higher Than I

The presence of fear does not mean you have no faith. Fear visits everyone. But make your fear a visitor and not a resident. ~ Max Lucado
Ps 61:1-2 Hear my cry, O God;
Attend unto my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed:
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
The psalmist petitions God to hear his cry and protect him, in David’s fear he sees the Lord as the most stable thing in His life.
 
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” 
― Corrie Ten Boom

The Cross Affect

Tit 3:5-7 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;  7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  Look what Jesus did for us on the cross when we receive Him as Lord and Savior.
We have been Justified through His sacrifice of the cross. Justification is a legal term that we are made righteous. Justification means we are declared righteous in God’s sight—not by human merit, but by His grace.
 
Christ’s righteousness is so imputed to believers that their justification is not merely the act of a sovereign dispensing with law but the act of a judge declaring the law to be satisfied. Charles Hodge

Cross Training 

Jesus Christ took the full punishment that we deserved for our sins as a substitute in our place.  
 
Jesus Christ died as the substitute for sinful humanity, taking humanity’s place on the cross. Examples of substitution Ge 22:13 Nu 3:12-13 Nu 8:18 1Sa 17:9 La 5:7
Taking up my “cross” means a life voluntarily surrendered to God. ―  A. W. Pink

Cross Training-2 

1 Cor 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
The world calls the cross foolish. What they fail to understand is that Jesus’ crucifixion is our salvation because Jesus became sin for us.
“All of heaven is interested in the cross of Christ, hell afraid of it, while men are the only ones to ignore its meaning.” ― Oswald Chambers

The Most Exalted One Jesus Christ

Phil 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
 
Because of Jesus’ obedient, self-emptying death on the cross, God exalted Him to the highest place of honor. Adoration is a word that we love to use during the Christmas season thanks largely to the classic carol O Come, All Ye Faithful as we sing, “O come, let us adore Him.”
 
This year as you celebrate the Christmas season strive to find a way to capture that Christmas spirit that will enable you to adore Him and grow with Him every day of your life.

Unlimited Atonement By Jesus Christ

Our sins are debts that none can pay but Christ. It is not our tears, but His blood; it is not our sighs, but His sufferings, that can testify for our sins. Christ must pay all, or we are prisoners forever. - Thomas Brooks

What Jesus did on the cross is for all people Jn 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.

Rom 3:23 tells us All have sinned, and God the Father gave His all for our redemption. What a loving powerful God who gave His only begotten Son for us.

For God to forgive sinners without the full penalty being paid would contradict His justice and make Him our partner in evil. Christ fully paid that penalty for our sins--but the pardon must be willingly and gladly received. God will not force anyone into heaven.
- Dave Hunt

Overcoming the Spirit of Antichrist through Changing our Focus

It’s easy to stay stuck thinking the world will wait for you, but it will not wait on you according to Bible prophecy.

Matt. 6:30 “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?”
The question that must be answered: what is this faith used for? Jesus answers that question for us in verse 33 “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” It will take faith to reprioritize our priorities. Living for the Kingdom of God overcomes the antichrist system.
The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. ~Jim Burns ~
It must be God first, God second, and God third.
~Oswald Chambers~

Fidelity In Parlous Times

Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Luk 9:57-62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
People respond in various ways to the call for discipleship. Jesus emphasizes that His followers must be willing to face hardships and make sacrifices. This call to discipleship takes a singular focus. If the closest relationships of a disciple’s life conflict with the claims of Jesus Christ, then our Lord requires instant obedience to Himself. Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a Person — our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a vast difference between devotion to a person and devotion to principles or to a cause. Our Lord never proclaimed a cause— He proclaimed personal devotion to Himself. Oswald Chambers Luk 14:27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Jesus encourages His followers—as well as those in the crowd to consider the great sacrifices involved in their decision to become His disciples. “Only a disciple can make a disciple.” ― A. W. Tozer

The Peace Of God

The Word of God tells us, our peace comes from Almighty God.

Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

We are not at peace with others because we are not at peace with ourselves, and we are not at peace with ourselves because we are not at peace with God.
Thomas Merton

Jesus’ death and resurrection gives us the privilege to approach God freely, that means we can vent to Him everything, today I choose to do so.
Father, our life is in your hands, and I can't find a better place, in Jesus’s name.

Potter's House Church of God

500 Sandy Hollow Road
Mystic, CT 06355

860-303-5065
Pastor@Pottershousect.org