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In Exodus 14:13 Moses tells the people of Israel to “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.” The Israelites had just left 400 years of slavery in Egypt. They had fled to the desert. But they had come to a dead end at the Red Sea. Word reached them that Pharaoh had changed his mind. He was sending his troops to recapture the Israelites. They cried out to their leader Moses, complaining that he had brought them that far only to die in the desert.

Learning when to move and when to stand is the greatest challenge for a believer. We are trained in the Word for action!

We are not trained to sit idly and wait. We are trained to solve problems, not wait for them to resolve themselves.

However, God says there are times to wait. We are to wait until He says go. If we go before He says go, we likely will make our situation worse.

If the Israelites had attempted to cross the Red Sea before it parted they would have drowned, if they had fled north to try to avoid the Egyptians, God would not have moved in a miraculous way.

God will not work on our behalf if we continually try to solve our problems, when He has instructed us to stand still. Standing still is sometimes the greatest action we can do, although it is the most difficult thing to do in the Christian walk.

Stand still when He says stand and see the deliverance of the Lord. Ask God to help you live a holy and godly lifestyle every day of your life. Pray that you would live each day with eternity set in your heart and mind.

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 9.10. Live for God, on purpose, learning when to wait, and when to move as He directs.

The Cry of Pardon

Famous last words... people are often remembered most for their last comments. Those final utterances can define what a person’s life was really all about.

Have you ever stopped to think specifically about Christ’s final words, as he hung on the cross? Among the very first words He uttered as He helplessly hung there, nailed between two thieves, for wrongs He never committed was “Father, forgive them.” Imagine that – while in the midst of the most excruciating form of death known, He asks His heavenly Father to forgive the very ones who nailed Him to that cross.

Thank God – because the individuals He asked the Father to forgive were you and I!

The cry of pardon burst forth that day from Calvary’s cross, and that same cry is still shouted loud today for all to hear. Yet, many seemingly turn a deaf ear to this cry. Why?

Be sure to join us this Sunday morning, when we will answer this question, as we begin our series of messages leading to Easter Sunday – Cries from the Cross – with The Cry of Pardon.

Rules or Relationship

Have you ever watched someone walking a dog on a leash when the dog doesn’t want to go where its owner is going? The owner is constantly tugging on the leash, pulling the dog from here and there, telling it to “stop that” and “come back here”. That’s the way a lot of us live. We are on a “law leash.” Our lives consist of “Stop that; come back here; don’t do that”. Only it’s in terms of “Read your Bible; pray; go to church; pay your tithes; witness”. Now, these are certainly the things we should be doing, but God never meant us to do them at the end of a leash. What a difference when you see a dog and its owner that have a strong relationship. The dog doesn’t need a leash to go for a walk. Its owner can just speak a word and the dog responds. Now we’re not comparing ourselves to dogs, we’re comparing performance-based Christian living to relationship-based Christian living. Big, big difference!

Paul writes: “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6 NAS).

When God redeemed you, He wrote His law in your heart and mind (See Hebrews 10:16). That means He wants to relate to you from the inside. You shouldn’t need an external system of rules to “keep you in line,” because you have internalized God’s Word and you have a desire to obey and please Him from your heart.

Stewardship

There is an ancient story about a man who hid his gold by burying it at the foot of a tree. Every week he used to dig it up and admire it. A thief noticed this routine and dug up the gold and ran off with it. The next day the man went out to discover his gold was missing. His mournful cry was so loud that he neighbors came to comfort him.

One of his friends asked if he ever used the gold. “No,” said the man, “I only came out to look at it.” The friend replied, “Why don’t you just keep coming out and look at the hole. That will do you as much good as just looking at the gold.”

Do we make the best use of our resources, or is it just as if we did not have it at all?

as seen in the January 26, 2009 issue of Rocky Henriques’ “The Timothy Report,” www.timothyreport.com

Stop Struggling

A story is told of a man taking a trip on an old wooden sailing ship. He was out of the deck one day and saw one of the crewmembers climbing the ropes, going up to the crow’s nest. When he was about half way up, the ship pitched to one side and he was thrown overboard. When he hit the water, he began to scream for help, and flail his arms wildly, as he struggled to survive. The traveler watched as a sailor walked over to the rail of the ship, and calmly observed the man in the water. After a short while the man in the water tired, and began to sink.

Immediately the sailor standing by the rail jumped overboard, and rescued the drowning victim. After both men were safely on board, the traveler went over to the rescuer and asked, “Why did you wait so long to jump in the water and rescue this man?”

He calmly replied, “I have found that as long as a man is struggling in the water, there is a greater chance that he will get us both killed if I jump in too quickly, and try to save him.” I have learned that it is better to let them struggle awhile, and when they come to the end of their own strength, I can then jump in and rescue them.

My friend, are you like the drowning man in the story? Have you fallen from your place of comfort and safety, and you are now struggling just to survive? Have you cried out to God to come and rescue you immediately? It is possible the Lord is waiting until you have come to the end of yourself, and stop struggling in a vain attempt to save yourself, through any means. When you finally admit you can’t save yourself, God will jump into the water and save you!

Unwanted

Not too long ago, the ship “Pelicano” sailed the seas. However, it was the world’s most unwanted ship. No country in the world wanted her. No country allowed her to land. She was a seaworthy ship and had reputable owners.

The problem was that she was filled with 15,000 tons of trash. It ranged from orange peelings to beer bottles to newspaper and dozens of other items. She was filled with the 1986 summer trash from Philadelphia. That’s when the municipal workers went on strike and the trash piled higher and higher. No one wanted it. The owners of the Pelicano thought they could make money by transporting it elsewhere. But no one wanted it. It was too much and then too old and now possibly toxic.

No one wants a trash-filled ship. Very few want those in their life whose mind and heart are filled with trash. Trash contaminates our relationships. Think of it this way:

Today’s thoughts are tomorrow’s acts.

Today’s bigotry is tomorrow’s hate crime.

Today’s anger is tomorrow’s abuse.

Today’s lust is tomorrow’s adultery.

Today’s greed is tomorrow’s embezzlement.

Today’s fear is tomorrow’s reality.

Some folks don’t know we have an option. Listening to our vocabulary, you’d think we are the victims of our own thoughts.

Do you think we have a choice of what thoughts we entertain or invite in? Paul said we do. 2 Corinthians 10:5 says, “Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” Our task is to face every thought and say, “Hold it right there. You are not allowed into my mind!”

What if you did that? What if you took every thought captive? What if you refused to let any trash enter your mind?

You are not a victim of your thoughts. You have a vote – you have a choice. You can exercise thought prevention. You can also exercise thought permission. Remember, your thoughts turn into your actions.

Spiritual Vitamins A to Z

Remember to take your vitamins every day!

• Anxious? Take Vitamin A. “All things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

• Blue? Take Vitamin B. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.” (Psalm 103:1)

• Crushed? Take Vitamin C. “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

• Depressed? Take Vitamin D. “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

• Empty? Take Vitamin E. “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.” (Psalm 100:4)

• Fearful? Take Vitamin F. “Fear not, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God.” (Isaiah 41:10)

• Greedy? Take Vitamin G. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put unto your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” (Luke 6:38)

• Hesitant? Take Vitamin H. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’“ (Isaiah 52:7)

• Insecure? Take Vitamin I. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

• Jittery? Take Vitamin J. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)

• Know nothing? Take Vitamin K. “Know this that the Lord is God, it is He that made us and not we ourselves. (Psalm 100:3)

• Lonely? Take Vitamin L. “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

• Mortgaged? Take Vitamin M. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

• Nervous? Take Vitamin N. “Never, no never will I leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

• Overwhelmed? Take Vitamin O. “Overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

• Perplexed or puzzled? Take Vitamin P. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

• Quitting? Take Vitamin Q. “Quit you like men and women, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13)

• Restless? Take Vitamin R. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” (Psalm 37:7)

• Scared? Take Vitamin S. “Stay with me, and do not be afraid; for the one who seeks my life seeks your life; you will be safe with me.” (1 Samuel 22:23)

• Tired? Take Vitamin T. “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

• Uncertain? Take Vitamin U. “Understand that I am (the Lord). Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.” (Isaiah 43:10)

• Vain? Take Vitamin V. “Vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. (Acts 5:16)

• Wondering what to do? Take Vitamin W. “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8)

• eXhausted? Take Vitamin X. “Exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” (1 Timothy 4:7)

• Yearning for hope? Take Vitamin Y. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you art with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4)

• Zapped? Take Vitamin Z. “Zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:14)

The Last Impression

The Sunday School teacher was describing how, when Lot and his family were fleeing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot’s wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.

One little boy piped up, “My dad looked back once while he was driving. He turned into a telephone pole!”

We are six weeks away from Resurrection Sunday! During this special time, each Sunday here at WFA we will be considering Christ’s words to us from the Cross. I am praying that this will be a time that each one of us is touched in a special way as we consider not just His words at that moment, but perhaps more importantly, what those same words speak to us today.

Looking forward to worshipping the risen Christ with you this Lord’s Day here at WFA!