Scripture Text: I Samuel 17

Introduction: The last time we were together we explored the issue of fear, and how God uses that fear as a test to help us understand how important it is for us to trust Him. God longs for us to simply accept the gifts from His hand. He has a more wonderful and fulfilling life for us, but fear cuts us off from accepting the things He has for us. I often counsel those who are feeling God’s tug at their hearts. He has something special for them to do, and they can look forward to blessings in abundance if they will only be obedient and trusting. People want to accept the call of God in their lives, but fear holds them back, always some new fear, “What if I am making the wrong decision?” “What if this is not the right partner for me?” “What if my business venture fails?” “What if I get homesick on the mission field?” What if. . . what if . . . What if? Somehow they can’t hold to a simple assurance of God’s trustworthy and loving nature. It doesn’t seem to register that He never calls His … READ MORE

Fighting your fear Where Faith and Fear meet. (part one) Scripture Text: Numbers 13:1-3, 1 ¶ And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them.” 3 So Moses sent them from the Wilderness of Paran according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel. …..

21 ¶ So they went up and spied out the land ….

25 And they returned from spying out the land after forty days. 26 ¶ Now they departed and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh; they brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 Then they told him, and said: “We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 “Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the … READ MORE

Since we are in interesting, and unprecedented times, allow me to share with you a devotional thought today from the text I had selected from 1Peter 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefined, and unfolding, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” In these days of uncertainty and constantly changing information, it is comforting for us to know that what we have in Christ is secure and kept in heaven. We’ve been given a family according to verse three and that family will give us encouragement and strength as we face the unknown in a days like those ahead of us. We’re also told in verse three the second part of the verse that we are given a living hope and it’s this hope that sees us through the unknowns of the days that lie ahead. We do not have to fear contact with a virus, or … READ MORE