All growth that is not toward God is growing to decay -  George Macdonald

This is the time to serve the Lord with all our heart, these are the final days, and the rapture is coming.

The only remedy for spiritual apathy is the truth of God’s Word. Jesus said, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

(Matt. 26:56 Peter denied Christ (26:69-75), Corinthian believers lived in sin (2 Cor. 12:20-21 the Church in Asia became lukewarm (Rev. 2:4 Rev. 14-15)

Many of us are hunting mice - while lions devour the land. - Leonard Ravenhill

Jesus, King of Kings

Matt 2:13-15, And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

The religious leaders, the Roman Government, and Herod tried to eliminate Jesus Christ and Christianity from the face of the earth, but the resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything.

And here we go again, they will try to destroy Christianity, but they forgot one important thing: the power of the resurrected Jesus Christ. The antichrist cannot come into power until the Holy Spirit is taken out of this world, we call this the rapture. I just want to remind believers that Christ Jesus is King of Kings. 2 Thess 2:-1 - 17, Paul reminds us not to be soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word. V.7 Lawlessness and deception is already at work. V.8 The Lord shall destroy the wicked one, the antichrist, with the brightness of His coming. V. 6-7 This antichrist has no power until the Holy Spirit is taken from this world. So, believers in Christ, if there is ever a day to proclaim Jesus is Lord and Savior, this is that day.

While many try to ignore Jesus, when He returns in power and might, this will be impossible.

- Michael Youssef

Lead Me to The Rock That Is Higher Than I

Ps 6:2-4 : Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak

O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: But thou, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: Oh save me for thy mercies’ sake.

The psalmist calls on Yahweh for deliverance. Using three Hebrew terms that can be translated “turn” (shuv), “deliver” (chalats), and “save” (yasha’), David calls out to Yahweh to deliver his life.

Each of us must confront our own fears and must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it. - Judy Blume

F.E.A.R. has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’  The choice is yours.  Zig Ziglar

Ps 46:1-2 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.
In uncertain times the Lord is our refuge. Refuge—literally, "a place of trust." God's Kingdom is a mighty fortress and is stable in all storms. Refuge the Hebrew word used here, machseh, which refers to a place of refuge, creates an image of a stronghold or impenetrable fortress. God’s help is always accessible or available, a very present help in time of trouble. 
“His strength is perfect when our strength is gone. He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on. Raised in His power the weak become strong. His strength is perfect” ~ Jerry Salley & Steven Curtis Chapman
 
You'll never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have. Are you in the wilderness? Find refuge in God's presence. Find comfort in his people. - Author: Max Lucado
 
Father, even though life seems like an earthquake, and the waters of life feel like they are going to overtake us, and what looks like utter chaos, you are our refuge and strength teach us to trust you.

The Cross Affect

“I can’t afford to have thoughts in my head about me that God doesn’t have in His.”— Bill Johnson (https://quotefancy.com/bill-johnson-quotes)
1 Pet 2:4 – 10 Our Identity is defined by the cross of Christ. V.9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
 
A Temple. You are living stones in God’s new creational Temple.
A Priesthood. You are a priest in God’s holy priesthood—royal priests, in fact.
A People. You are God’s chosen race, a holy nation to God.
A Possession. You are a people for God’s own possession.
 
“My thoughts are found in the word of God, and my life
is hidden in Christ Jesus.” – Bruno A Spada

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.

Potter's House Church of God

500 Sandy Hollow Road
Mystic, CT 06355

860-303-5065
Pastor@Pottershousect.org