firstIMPRESSIONS
from Senior Pastor Timothy Satryan

In Judges 6:12-14 we read “The angel of the LORD appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.” Then Gideon said to him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? ...the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord looked at him and said, “Go in this your strength and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?”

At first Gideon questioned this angel of the Lord and complained about his circumstances. How could God really love Israel? How could God really care about Gideon when they were all in such distress, danger, and poverty?

Gideon did not yet know to Whom he was speaking. This angel spoke as Jehovah Himself, and when Gideon finally realized he’d been discussing politics and religion with God – face to face – he was rightfully terrified: “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” The Lord said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear; you shall not die.” Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and named it The Lord is Peace. (Judges 6:22-24)

When Gideon’s eyes were at last opened to see that the Lord had taken a personal interest in his situation, that God was present with him in the midst of all this darkness and fear, he worshiped the Lord by a new name – Jehovah-shalom, The Lord is Peace!

In the days to come – the Lord was going to put Gideon in some very unpeaceful situations. In some ways Gideon would face more stresses and challenges than he had ever faced in his young life. But no matter what happened from this point on, Gideon could look back to an altar. He could look back at a moment in time when Jehovah-shalom said to him, “Peace to you, do not fear.”

Do you ever feel as if you’re trying to thresh wheat in a winepress? Surrounded by enemies who press in on you and try to steal every grain of peace and gladness out of your life? Do you ever begin to wonder where your God is in the midst of your hurts and hardships?

We cannot base our peace in the circumstances and situations of life. We must not let our peace be centered in another man or woman-no matter how dear they are to us. We dare not allow peace to depend on sunny skies, a full stomach, a balanced checkbook, a healthy body, or a harmonious home.

Like Gideon, we need to discover that God is Jehovah-shalom! “He Himself is our peace!” (Ephesians 2:14) Once you really understand this and worship God as Jehovah-shalom, you can have peace no matter what storms sweep over the horizon.

Jesus told His disciples this very thing in the last few hours before the Cross. These men were in terrible turmoil, and things were about to get much worse. “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Where do you run when you need peace? Is your first response to go looking for a person or to pick up the phone? Before you do that – run into the shelter of His name! Because He is your Peace!

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 7.21. Live for God, on purpose, walking in the peace that passes all understanding!

What is a Pentecostal Christian supposed to look like and act like? If you would ask many people today – especially those who are not church-goers – they would perhaps describe someone much like the “church lady” character. And, sometimes they aren’t too far from the truth! Throughout the years, I have observed plenty of folks in Pentecostal churches who have an attitude that isn’t too different from the “church lady.”

And then there is, of course, the opposite end of the picture. I’m sure that you have met many “covert” believers, who melt in with the American society so well that you couldn’t possibly tell that they were Pentecostals unless you later saw them at church – and even then you weren’t entirely certain!

This Sunday we observe Pentecost Sunday. Recorded in the second chapter of Acts, this is the day that the Holy Spirit came upon the church, empowering them for service for the Lord. This first church had been told that they would “receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Here at WFA, we are a Pentecostal church. We believe that the experience of the first church in Acts is still valid and available for us today. And, if we truly believe that, then we as believers should likewise model the same characteristics of those early believers. That means that we should be neither “covert Christians” nor “church-lady clones.”

Ephesians 5:15-18 tells us to “be careful how we live...,” to “make the most of every opportunity...,” to “understand what the Lord’s will is...” and to “be filled with the Spirit.” My message this Sunday – Pentecost Sunday – will draw from this passage, as we look at “Characteristics of Pentecostals.” I am confident that you will be challenged and encouraged as we look at God’s Word.

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by Richard Innes

“According to your faith be it unto you.” – Matthew 9:29

A winner sees an opportunity in every risk while a loser sees a risk in every opportunity. Winners know that to risk nothing is to risk everything, that if they are going to win they need to be willing to try, to take chances, and to risk failure. That is, they have to be willing to strike out if they are going to hit home runs.

Apparently the year Babe Ruth broke the world record for hitting the most home runs he also broke the world’s record for the most strike-outs!

The point is, if I am going to hit home runs I have to be in the game, stand at the plate and keep swinging. Sooner or later if I practice hard and do my best, I will hit a home run.

As somebody else has said, “To try when there is little hope is to risk failure. Not to try at all is to guarantee it.”

True winners make sure their goal is in harmony with God’s will and, because of this, they know that with his help there is always a way to achieve their goal. Furthermore, they believe in their cause. And they believe in themselves in a healthy way. Therefore they expect to win, believe they will, and do so.

They also know that if they tried and did their best, they have already won.

Suggested prayer: “Dear God, please help me to be a winner-not in the eyes of the world-but in your eyes. Help me to do my best, always live in harmony with your will, learn to love others as you love me, and be a part in what you are doing in the world today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus’ name, amen.”

© Copyright 2007 ACTS International. Visit them online at http://www.actsweb.org

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by Timothy Jackson, Jr.

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” – Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

A young man went to a local restaurant that was voted by locals to have the best hamburgers in the city. As the young man approached the cashier to place his order, he began to rattle off the things he did not want on his burgers. He began to explain to the cashier that he did not want onions because he did not want the smell of them on his breath. Because he had nothing to counter the smell, he knew what he ingested was likely to come out of his mouth and not smell too good. Therefore, he decided that he “shouldn’t have the onions.”

It is important for every Christian to know that everything we ingest will come out in some way or another. If we ingest negativity from people, negativity will begin to come out of our mouths. If we ingest positive things, positive affirmations will come out of our mouths. Negativity is like the smell of onions in the eyes of God and we cannot allow ourselves and/or other people place it in our lives.

Doubt, complaining, self-pity are among the many onions we sometimes ingest. Because we ingest these onions, we begin to speak negative things over our lives, and it stinks. We must decide to no longer think or speak negatively over our lives or allow others to do so. God has purpose and destiny for our lives and the enemy knows this and wants to rob us of it. Therefore, it is up to us not to allow negativity to stink it up, but decide that we “shouldn’t have the onions.”

© 2006 by Timothy Jackson, Jr. All Rights Reserved. E-mail: MinTim15@hotmail.com. Contact address: P.O. Box 3194, Memphis, TN 38175

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by Rick Ezell

This is a test.

Those words bring a tinge of anxiety. Whether it’s an announcement from the Emergency Broadcast System – “You’ll be instructed where to tune in case of an actual emergency.” Or, it’s a teacher who clears her throat – “Please take out a blank sheet of paper for a pop quiz.”

God often says to us, “It’s pop quiz time. I’m giving you a test.”

Where are you being tested? Is it a struggle with a house full of small children, or not having any children? Maybe your test is at work. Is it a difficult boss? The chance of a layoff? Doing the work that four people used to do? Are you having trouble with a relationship? A friend? Or a spouse? Maybe your finances are out of whack. Are you continually under the gun of insufficient funds? Could it be a real test at school? Not one with multiple choices dealing with math or geography, but one related to the real life issues of expectations and progress?

A test is a difficult experience through which a person’s true values, commitments, and beliefs are revealed. Test is a very important word in the Old Testament. A test was to prove or evidence the character and faith of God’s people. By the way, only the people of God, never heather nations, were tested. It was always reserved for people of faith, never for the ungodly. Even though tests are painful and unwelcome, they are an act of love. Tests prove our faith.

While tests are not necessarily pleasant times, they are learning times. During our times of testing our spiritual muscles are stretched, our faith is strengthened, and our character is forged. God’s tests are designed to develop us into men and women of strong spiritual resolve. Let’s face it; our spiritual roots grow deeper when the winds assault and the storms assail. Take away the tests, and we become spiritual wimps.

as seen in Rick Ezell’s “One Minute Uplift” weekly email devotional of May 24, 2007. Dr. Ezell is pastor of First Baptist Church in Greer, South Carolina.

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I refuse to be discouraged,
To be sad, or to cry;
I refuse to be downhearted,
and here’s the reason why...

I have a God who’s mighty,
Who’s sovereign and supreme;
I have a God who loves me,
and I am on His team.

He is all wise and powerful,
Jesus is His name;
Though everything is changeable,
My God remains the same.

My God knows all that’s happening;
Beginning to the end,
His presence is my comfort,
He is my dearest friend.

When sickness comes to weaken me,
To bring my head down low,
I call upon my mighty God;
Into His arms I go.

When circumstances threaten
to rob me from my peace;
He draws me close unto His breast,
Where all my strivings cease.

And when my heart melts within me,
and weakness takes control;
He gathers me into His arms,
He soothes my heart and soul.

The great “I AM” is with me,
My life is in His hand,
The “Son of the Lord” is my hope,
It’s in His strength I stand.

I refuse to be defeated,
My eyes are on my God;
He has promised to be with me,
as through this life I trod.

I’m looking past all my circumstances,
To Heaven’s throne above;
My prayers have reached the heart of God,
I’m resting in His love.

I give God thanks in everything,
My eyes are on His face;
The battle’s His, the victory’s mine;
He’ll help me win the race.

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by Ken Stegall

The interesting thing about a pessimist and an optimist is that they are both right. Just ask them. They will be more than happy to share their evidence.

We all tend to find what we are looking for in life. It’s the old adage “Is the glass half full or half empty?” The answer is “Yes.” Happiness, peace and success in life are determined, not by circumstances, but by your attitude.

If you look for problems, you’ll find them. If you look for solutions, you may or may not find them, but you will find the strength to endure through your problems. And endurance quite often brings the solution.

The difference between a pessimist and an optimist is that an optimist focuses on the future and a pessimist focuses on the immediate circumstances. If that’s true, then we as Christians have every reason to be optimistic. Our God has promised us an incredibly bright future. And we trust Him. That’s what the Bible calls faith.

Every pessimist considers himself to be a “realist.” The implication being – “If you are optimistic, you are ignoring the facts!” But one can be optimistic even in dire circumstances... IF he believes that someone who 1) loves him and 2) is powerful enough to control every situation IS, in fact, IN CONTROL. However, if you believe that things are truly out of control, and/or that God doesn’t truly love you, there is no basis for optimism. So when we find ourselves becoming pessimistic, we need to focus on those two things.

I’m an optimist. And, I like to believe that I’m also a realist. That means that when it looks like things are out of control in my life, or in the world, I need to remind myself that what I’m really feeling is that things are out of MY control. And I pray for faith to remind me to be at peace knowing that my loving Father is in control.

I don’t always understand His ways. That’s because He’s bigger than I am. I’m thankful for that. He can see all the way to the end of my life and He certainly knows that I need some struggles to give me reason to trust Him.

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At a certain church, coffee was always served after the sermon. One Sunday the minister asked one of the smaller members of the congregation if he knew why they had coffee hour.

Without hesitating, the youngster replied, “To wake people up before they have to drive home.”

And that reminds me – this Sunday we have our regular “Last Sunday Social” following the Morning Worship Service – complete with coffee and donuts served while we fellowship with each other! Come join us, and wake up before you drive home!