It's a new day Blog

How to be a Hero of Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle... ~ Hebrews 11:32-34

Persecution for Christians persists today just as it did in the early church. In Egypt, the Sudan, China, Christians around the world must hide reading the Bible. If they gathered together to attend a church service, they would make the ultimate sacrifice, and lose their lives.

Another pastor is quoted as declaring that he prays for the church in America to encounter persecution because without persecution, there will be no depth in the church. This is an interesting prayer.

I, as a pastor, do not generally pray for you to encounter persecution. I generally pray that you are filled with God’ Spirit to proclaim the Gospel and experience all that God has for you as His child. I pray that you would be men and women of integrity, so to be examples to others. However, if persecution is what it takes to have depth in our lives, then may we endure!

The writer of the book of Hebrews describes groups of men and women who display the qualities of a Hero in Faith. When we come to Christ, and we have faith in Him, we have the opportunity to be Heroes. These men and women displayed the key qualities of obedience, service, and courage.

To be a Hero of Faith, we first must be obedient to God under pressure. When God commanded Moses to sacrifice a lamb and sprinkle the blood on the doorposts of their house so that the Angel of the Lord would Passover their house and no one would be harmed, anyone who obeyed was saved! When the Israelites were commanded to cross the Red Sea while the Egyptian army approached, they obeyed. The key here is obedience. In both of these situations, obedience is of utmost importance, even when times were tough or doubts persist. To be a Hero of Faith, obey God and His Word!

Secondly, Heroes of the Faith display service through the Power that God supplies. Hebrews lists leaders such as Gideon, David, and Samuel, who did amazing feats of strength and might in the power and to the glory of God. When we come to Christ in faith, we must be willing to serve, not in our own strength, but, as commanded in 1 Peter 4:11, “If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified.” When we are weak and feel like quitting, we must continue to serve in God’s strength and power. In our weakness, He is strong.

A Hero of Faith displays courage in the face of imminent danger, and even death. Through the ages, men and women have stood up in obedience in service to God and have endured persecution. How can we do this? With the hope of the life to come. This life is brief, yet how we live this life will determine eternity. If we live this life in obedience to God and service to others, we will live abundantly, both now and in the life to come.

God is looking for men and women who will lead, who will do great things in the power of His Spirit. Is there something God is calling you to do, that may cost you something?

I am just beginning to understand that it is through our sorrow and pain, that God moves greatly. Will you obey, serve and have the courage to stand for God?

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him...”

Blessings,

Robert Furrow

Shedding Light on the Work of the Holy Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:00:00 +0000

“You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece. And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side. ~ Exodus 25:31-32

In the Presence of God on Mount Sinai, Moses receives specific instructions on constructing the tabernacle, and the temple. Unique and prized, this tabernacle was the dwelling place of God among the children of Israel. The physical tabernacle no longer exists; it has been destroyed. Now, the spiritual tabernacle of God is among His people and one day, we will be in His Presence forever: “ ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God’”(Revelation 21:3).

The golden lampstands were to illuminate the temple. This lampstand or candlestick represents the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit. Whereas the physical temple housed these golden lampstands, now we are the temple of the Holy Spirit. The seven branches represent complete perfection in the work of the Spirit. Even the decorative almond blossoms are significant because they are the first plants to bloom and produce fruit in Jerusalem. Thus, the work of the Spirit is to be the first fruit of our lives.

In Acts, after Jesus is glorified and ascends to Heaven, the Holy Spirit is given first to Jews, and then to all. This is a fulfillment of Joel 2:28, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also on my menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” After Pentecost, the floodgates are opened and the Spirit is available to any follower of Christ, regardless of position, ability, culture, or gender.

The Holy Spirit’s main role is to bring all, Jews and Gentiles, to Jesus. He does this in three distinct ways. Before salvation, the Holy Spirit is with a person, convicting or convincing of the need for salvation. Upon salvation, the Holy Spirit dwells IN the believer for sanctification. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit is to transform the believer from a person acting in the flesh and its desires, to a person acting by the Spirit of God and His desires every day. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit comes UPON the believer to empower and equip that person to preach the Gospel and influence others for the kingdom of God.

Just as the candlestick was adorned with almond blossoms, the fruit of the Holy Spirit is to be evident in our daily lives, not only at church or Bible study, but when we are working, driving, watching television, and posting on the internet. If we lose control and get angry when we are driving, this may be an indication that we have not given everything to the Lord.

Experience the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit. How? Just ask and it will be given to you (Matthew 7:7) Hold your life before the Lord and watch what He will do in and through you to illuminate the dark world around you!

Blessings,

Robert Furrow

Faith to the Next Generation

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 13 May 2013 14:04:00 +0000

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king’s command.

~ Hebrews 11:23

You hold a unique position in the lives of your children. Statistics show that children of strong Christians are more likely to stay committed to Christ, whereas children of nominal Christians are more likely to walk away from Christ. Kid's watch their parents, don't they? And kids can easily spot hypocrisy in the lives of their parents. On the other hand, when parents are committed to Christ, this excellent example is one they want to follow.

Hebrews illustrates three examples of Godly Parenting Principles. The first is that Isaac and Jacob blessed their children with an eternal perspective. We bless our children today by praying for them, by encouraging them and by showing them Jesus. Christianity is much better caught than taught. Your children see you all the time, they will see from observing you what Christianity is about, and if you are really serious about Jesus.

Joseph displays the second principle of godly parenting in speaking and encouraging his children in the Word of God. Mothers, parents, instill your children with the Eternal Word of God. By faith, Joseph gives and reminds his children of the prophecy that they would not stay in Egypt forever and he gave them instructions to take his bones to the promised land.

Find ways to build your children in the eternal word. Speak, sing, and show Bible verses around your home. Deuteronomy 6:6-9 says, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

The last godly principle to impart to your children is boldness in the Eternal God. Jochebed, the mother of Moses, shows complete faith in the Lord when places her beautiful baby in a basket and sends him down the river. She bodly places her son in the hands of God and watches Him work miraculously! We must lay everything at His feet, even our children and He will give us back what He wills.

When you read the Word of God and let it change you, your children will see and follow you. Let it be your, our children who change the world for Jesus. Give your children the Word of God and watch it transform your children and the world.

Blessings,

Robert Furrow

Choosing in Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 06 May 2013 14:08:00 +0000

By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. ~ Hebrews 11:24-26

Faith is the substance of things that are not seen. Faith is how we get our hands around things that we need to believe. This is opposite to our usual system. We believe when we see. This is displayed in the court system. Witnesses and lawyers present evidence to persuade beyond a reasonable doubt.

Faith is believing before you see the evidence. It is the way that God moves in your life. Faith and confidence are not the same things. You can doubt and struggle and still be a strong man or woman of faith, the important thing is that you diligently seek God no matter how you feel. You make the decision to seek Him and to serve Him in the areas of your life. This becomes the faith, the substance of your life. By faith we choose to seek truth and trust God. By faith, we choose God and enter into heaven.

Moses displays faith in three difficult choices. He chose to suffer affliction; he chose to sacrifice; and he chose to see God.

Moses, for the Hebrew people, was the father of their faith. He was the leader who gave them the law by which they knew God. As a child and young man, he was trained in the ways of Egyptian leadership. When he saw the Hebrews, his people, suffering as slaves, he chooses to suffer with his people- and God used this to shape Moses into the deliverer of the Hebrews. In order to live by faith, we identify no longer with the world. Rather, we identify with the sacrifice, the suffering of Christ.

Secondly, Moses exhibits faith by choosing to sacrifice, by choosing to forsake the passing pleasures of Egypt. This is faith. Trusting God enough to sacrifice. Are you willing to give up everything to do what God wants you to do? It is through our suffering that Christ shines. In reality, when we sacrifice the world, we gain everything in Christ; we see our Creator, God.

Moses also chose to see God. Rather than live in the passing, temporary pleasures of Egypt, he chose eternity. He chose to do what God had called Him to do. He would have never become the deliverer of the Hebrews had he not chosen in faith to see God.

I gave my life to Jesus when I was a young teenager, but when I was 18, I pursued the passing pleasures of the world. Through a series of events, I found myself empty and hopeless. God was calling me to return to Him in faith. When I did this, it was a sacrifice. Only after this sacrifice, I began to do that which God had called me to do. I met my wife, Lisa, I began to teach the Bible and live an adventure with Jesus. Yes, suffering and trials meet us as we chose faith in Christ. Yet, the emptiness of sin and death are defeated in the power of Christ and eternity.

Though Moses’ faith, he chose suffering, rather than pleasure. He sacrificed pleasure to eternal riches. He chose to see God, both on earth and into eternity. We are all faced with choices. Choose faith, and see the Eternal God!

Blessings,

Robert

The Faith to Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

But without faith it is impossible to pleaseHim, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. ~ Hebrews 11:6

You feel sick. You visit a doctor you hardly know. He makes a diagnosis and gives you a prescription of which you have never heard. You go the pharmacy and trust that they fill your prescription appropriately. Then you take the medicine. This is faith: believing and trusting without seeing!

There are countless examples of faith in modern day life. We walk and sit beneath a balcony without really knowing the level of support.

Faith is greatly misunderstood. Faith is not telling God what you want. Faith is not getting what you want from God. Faith is simple. When we go back to the root words, it means trusting in what someone says.

DL Moody is quoted as saying, “I prayed for faith and thought that some day faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not seem to come. One day I read in the tenth chapter of Romans, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." I had up to this time closed my Bible and prayed for faith. I now opened my Bible and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since.”

If you are having a difficult time believing and trusting in God, begin to read God’s Word. God stands behind His Word and when we devote ourselves to it, it will change us. Jesus said in Mark 4:20, “And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.”

Are you living by faith? Scripture commands us to be generous. Do you believe God enough to give to the poor? Do you trust God enough to be generous and trust that He will provide for you?

Say to the Lord, “I trust you. I will do what You say and go where You lead!” If you say this, your life will be dynamic!

Faith is the substance by which we grab hold of the promises found in the Word of God. In faith I apply Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” When I lie awake at night in my bed, anxious over a problem or circumstance, faith tells me to do what God says in His Word. Instead of worrying, I need to pray to the Lord with thanksgiving for the things that I do have, and then God’s peace will guard my heart and mind. Faith is how I hold onto God’s Word and live by it.

Faith is not always synonymous with confidence. For example if a New Yorker meets a person from a remote tribe in front of an elevator, the New Yorker is confident that the elevator works. This is not faith. Having faith in the word of the New Yorker, the person from a tribe steps on to the elevator, not knowing how or why it works. This is faith.

Faith is doing what God has said. What has God said? Read His Word and discover how to live.

Imagine what God might have in store for you if you just trust Him.

Blessings,

Robert

The Three R's of Endurance

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. ~ Hebrews 10:35-36

When we enter the race of Christ, we endure to the finish line. No one wants to run a marathon to drop out after the first mile or first lap! The end of the race will come at different times for each of us. But we know that whether we die, or are caught up in the sky to meet Jesus, the end of this life will come.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

If Jesus came back today, would you be ready? If your race was finished today, would you be ready? Are you running with endurance?

Dawson Trotman, the founder of the Navigators, finished his race at the age of 50. His headstone reads, “He lived to save others...Dawson Trotman, always lifting others up.” What a legacy! He ran his race with endurance until the finish line.

Here are the three “R” words to ensure endurance to the finish line:

Rally. We need each other. God does not want us to run the race alone. To endure and make it to the finish line, we need to rally together and help each other. In the difficult seasons of life, we can encourage one another with Scripture, service, and words of encouragement.

We rally together and serve one another by ministering with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. God has given each one of us a gift. 1 Peter 4: 10-11 says, “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies...” If you do not know what your gift is, ask the Lord, or step out in faith into an area of need and see how God uses you. If you are interested in children’s ministry, or prison ministry or missions, go! Get involved and see how God moves.

Sometimes, we want to isolate ourselves because people can hurt us. However, we must step out and make relationships if we want to endure unto the end. Though relationships expose us to pain, they can also bring great joy in helping one another. To endure, we must encourage each other and rally together.

Remain. If we do not remain or endure, we will not make it to the finish line. The only way that we know that we are saved is if we remain until the end. We will battle against sin and the flesh in this life. We will never stop struggling with sin, but the key is that there is a struggle. If we walk, and live in sin, then we are not remaining in Jesus. If we run with endurance, and stumble in sin, but confess it, we are forgiven. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Jesus uses an analogy of a vine to describe remaining in Him. In John 15:4-5, Jesus says,“‘Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.’” If we walk with Jesus, we remain.

Do you remain? Do you abide with Jesus. Wake up in the morning and open the Word of God. Talk to Him throughout your day. Meditate on His truth, His promises. Remain.

Remember. Finally, in order to endure to the end of the race, we must remember all from which Christ has saved us. Remember the goodness of God, the grace of Jesus. Think realistically about what your life would be without Christ.

Also, we must remember that Jesus is coming. “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come” Hebrews 10:37. The reward if we remain: The Presence of God forever.

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” ~ Revelation 21:3-5

Blessings,

Robert

A Trip from Heaven to Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

“‘ Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,

But a body You have prepared for Me.

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin

You had no pleasure.

Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—

In the volume of the book it is written of Me—

To do Your will, O God.’”

” Exodus 9:12

A Sunday school teacher posed the question to her class, “How many of you kids would like to go to Heaven and be with Jesus.” All the children in this class raised their hands in affirmation, all except one boy. The teacher addressed this young boy, “(Johnny), you do not want to go to Heaven?” The boy answered, “Yes, I want to go to Heaven! I just thought you were asking if we wanted to go right now!”

Many of us feel the same way at many points in our lives! We want to go to heaven...eventually. We may feel that there is more in life for us to experience or accomplish, even for the Lord. However, life is short and the trip to Heaven for the believer approaches with every day of life. Jesus made the trip to Heaven possible, by taking a trip from Heaven to Earth.

Now in my life, I desire Heaven. I want to be in Heaven and looking at Jesus. A few weeks after my wife died, I had a nightmare in which my wife said, “Look what you have done to me.” I felt guilty, that in some way, I had contributed to her sickness and eventual passing. A few weeks after this, I had a better dream. This time, I was sitting next to my wife and she was looking out. She turned to me, her face was glowing and she said, “You’re crazy!” This is a phrase she would often say, not to imply literal insanity, but that something was irrational. I knew the Lord was telling me that it was not my fault and that she was now in the Presence of Jesus and her face was glowing.

Heaven is a place where we will always be in the Presence of the eternal Light of Jesus.

Psalm 34:5 says, “They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.”

Life is not about what you have, it is about who you know. Heaven is not about the place, it is about the Person.

Jesus, God’s Son, left His perfect dwelling place to come down to earth and make a way for us to go to Heaven and be with Him forevermore. The Old Testament required sacrifices of animals repeatedly to atone, or pay for sins. This was insufficient. It never actually paid the full debt for sin. Jesus’ sacrifice of His life paid the full price for sin. He showed the ultimate gesture of love in sacrifice. Now, we are not only able to go to Heaven, but we also can know Him and love Him.

John 15:12-14, 15 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

Jesus is a compelling individual. The greatest thing that we can do, is to lift Jesus up, to glorify Jesus and share Jesus to the people around us. People will be compelled to seek after Jesus. Now, there are many in our society that do not understand the person of Jesus, why He lived on earth, and why He died.

When we seek Jesus and walk with Him, we are changed and renewed. The law is no longer just actions on the outside, it is a change of the heart enacted by the Holy Spirit.

Consider the following illustration of sanctification and forgiveness of Jesus. Two men are given a new pair of shoes. Jesus tells them to run a race through a field which contains mud puddles, but they need to keep their shoes clean. The first man runs well, and avoids many of the mud puddles, but slips a few times. He comes to Jesus and apologizes with humility, "I'm sorry. I tried to be pure, but I slipped." Jesus quickly cleans off the shoes perfectly. "That's why I died. I forgive you." The second man starts off the race well, but quickly hits a mud puddle. Since he hit one mud puddle, he gives up trying to be clean. He even tries to hit a few mud puddles. When he arrives at the end, he says, "Here, Jesus. Clean my shoes." This man's pride is almost sickening. The warning remains that we need to seek Jesus, do those things which glorify Him, and ask Him for forgiveness immediately.

Seek Heaven, where Jesus dwells eternally....They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.

Blessings,

Robert Furrow

One Death to End Them All

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

“For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another— He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Hebrews 9: 24-25

We all will have to face death at one point or another. Romans 6:23 informs "...the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Sin, the sin in which we are entrapped, brings separation from God, spiritual death.

Jesus endured a brutal death, on the cross, to pay the wages of sin.

The movie, The Passion of the Christ (2004) attempted to show the horrifying reality and bloodiness of the crucifixion of Jesus. It was a shocking and heartrending movie for many. Despite this, I do not believe it was able to display the true horror and bloodiness of Jesus’ death. The horror is compounded by the Person who was crucified, Jesus was an innocent man. He was declared innocent by Pilate who delivered Him to be crucified. It was the Jesus who was tender, merciful, compassionate, a friend of sinners who endured the brutality of the cross. This was the price that was required.

We live in an age where sin is justified, where people do not think sin is that bad. The truth is that sin, giving in to sin brings destruction. Consider the destruction which wreaks havoc when a man or woman commits adultery. This sin brings consequences, but sin also brings physical and spiritual sin. We ought to hate sin, because sin brings death.

The Hebrew people would have understood the death, the blood which was required to pay, or atone for sins. The priests would offer up sacrifices of calves and goats and even sprinkle this blood over the people. They understood the necessity of blood.

Life is in the blood. The writer of Hebrews did not know the scientific merits of this statement. Without the oxygenation of the blood, we cannot exist. This is understood even better now.

When God created Adam and Eve, they were pure. Sin had not entered the picture. Once Adam and Eve sinned and were separated from God, they would die physically and spiritually...unless a sacrifice was made, a sacrifice which took the punishment: death.

For generations, the sacrifices of goats and bulls were offered repeatedly until only one sacrifice, one death ended them all: the death of Jesus.

Thus, Jesus ended spiritual death. Why did He do this? The answer is found later in Hebrews 12:1-2:
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

A photo from The Passion of The Christ (2004)

Jesus endured the death, a horrific death, for the joy that was set before Him. The joy that humans would live eternally. That He would conquer death once for all humanity and so secure a place for us with Him.

What are you doing with the death of Jesus? Do you continue to live in sin? Or perhaps you do not believe that Jesus' death was enough and you continue to try and be perfect in your own merits? Stop it!

Nothing but the blood of Jesus can offer us freedom and forgiveness of sins. I cannot express this with enough fervency! Life does not offer a "do - over." You must receive Him today! There is no guarantee for how long you will live. If your life were to end tonight, would you be with Him?

Receive Him...and live!

Blessings,
Robert Furrow

Great Expectation: Moses on Mount Sinai

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:30:00 +0000

And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was completely in smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire. Its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. And when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by voice. 20 Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.. ~ Exodus 19:17-20

Moses and the children of Israel have reached Mount Sinai, the place where Moses meets with God and receives the ten commandments and the law.

Moses is called up and begins to ascend the mountain. Beads of sweat appear on his brow, breaths become more frequent and deep, and his heart begins to quicken its pace as he climbs higher and higher. Moses is an 80 year old man at this point. Yet, he must climb the mountain to hear from God, and then go back down the mountain to deliver the message to the people. He mediates between the people and God. Now, we have a perfect Mediator, One that gives us direct access to God.

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:4

In this way, Moses is a type of Christ, as a Mediator between God and us. Christ has made a way for us to ascend the spiritual mountain, and meet with God. We can boldly approach God’s throne at any time. But we need to make the effort. We must go on the mountain. We must climb the mountain spiritually in order to interact with Him. We have to make a deliberate determination to know Him more. It takes seeking and determination to climb up a mountain.

God promises eternal joy and purpose in a relationship with Him. He wants us to rise up with wings like eagles. This is not always easy. Young eagles may want to stay in the nest. The nest is comfortable. We, like the baby eagles may want to stay in the comfort and security of the nest, but God says, “No, you were created to fly!” God has created us with a purpose, to soar, to fly above the mediocre, meaningless pursuits of the world and to seek eternal riches: love and a relationship with Him forevermore.

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? ~ Romans 2:4

When the Israelites see the presence of God on Mount Sinai, they see a mighty and frightful sight. The mountain is covered in smoke with a blast of the trumpet. Moses is called up to this place and God speaks to Him. Although God is mighty and glorious, He wants to meet with Moses and speak to the people. Now, under the sacrifice and grace we have received in Christ, we can ascend that spiritual mountain at any time and hear from Him.

We have to wake up tomorrow morning and say, “Lord, use me. I am Yours. Let me shine as a light to the people around me that are perishing.” If we live with that type of expectation, I believe God will do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think.

I want to live in that expectation.

Blessings,

Robert

God and Your Family

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:00:00 +0000

Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with his sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was encamped at the mountain of God. And when he sent word to Moses, “I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons with her,...And Jethro rejoiced for all the good that the Lord had done to Israel, in that he had delivered them out of the hand of the Egyptians. ~ Exodus 18: 5-6,9

Earlier in Moses’ life, he separates from his Midian wife Zipporah and his wife. In Exodus 18, after the Lord has not only delivered the Hebrews supernaturally out of slavery, but also provided them with food and water, Moses is reunited with his wife. This is a good reminder that God delights in marriage and desires successful marriage.

Not only was Moses separated from his wife, he was also separated from his father-in-law, Jethro. When Moses is reunited with his wife, Jethro not only reunites with Moses, he also professes the Lord as the one, true God. God is a healer of broken hearts.

Psalm 147:3 - He heals the brokenhearted/ And binds up their wounds.

Now, you may experience a separation in your marriage or in your family. Do not focus on the other person. You, personally, have been given a call to seek first the Kingdom of God.

Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

Your life is not to be lived for yourself. If this is the case, you will never be satisfied. God is your Creator. He knows you and He wants to take care of you. You just worry about yourself and let God be the One to salvage your life because God is a mender of broken hearts.

This does not mean that if you are having trouble in your families or in your marriages, that you should seek a separation or divorce. There are legitimate reasons for divorce, namely adultery. Also, marriage where abuse is a legitimate concern may be cause for separation. However, God designed marriage and wants to work to heal your marriage and your family relationships. Wherever you are right now, serve God in sincerity. Whether your relationships are good, bad or indifferent, seek God first. Pray for your family, your spouse.

1 Corinthians 7: 10-11,15 says, “Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.Do not divorce, if you do, remain single...But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. "

Although there may be times where you go through a separation, the purpose is that you may be brought back together again or remain single. Thus, if you divorce, biblically, you are to remain single. The exception in verse 15, is if an unbelieving spouse leaves you, then you are free to remain single or remarry. This may not be what you want, but this is what serving God requires. The promise is that if you seek Him, He will take care of Him.

When you seek after God, He will provide for you and can restore broken relationships. Perhaps you will remain single. Or perhaps, like Moses, perhaps you will be reconciled in a marriage and see family members come to Jesus!

Seek Him first and watch what He will do.
Blessings,
Robert Furrow

Thirsty?

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 15:00:00 +0000

And the people thirsted there for water, and the people complained against Moses, and said, “Why is it you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” ... And the Lord said to Moses, “Go on before the people, and take with you some of the elders of Israel. Also take in your hand your rod with which you struck the river, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink. ~ Exodus 17:3-6

Whenever the former slaves, the Hebrews face adversity in the wilderness, they complain. These things happen to them as an example to us. The fact that they complain when they encounter difficulties is not an exception in the human race. Complaining is a human condition. When things are going well, we come to church and praise God with a smile on our face. However, on the drive home, if we get a flat tire or something else happens, our attitude changes. In light of eternity, the flat tire is not a big deal, but we instantly lose sight and begin to complain.

When we get the flat tire, perhaps we might ask, “What would you have me do, Lord? How can I glorify You in this flat tire?” The Lord might even bring someone to you who needs to hear the Gospel or someone in need. We need to take our anxieties, our fears, our angers to the Lord in prayer. If you believe He is truly in your life and He is with you, then you will turn to Him first.

The Hebrews were delivered from slavery. They follow the glory of the Lord in pillars of cloud and fire. They were delivered miraculously through the Red Sea and God provided food from heaven for them. Now, they are thirsty. In their thirst, they lose sight of God. Yet, God provides water for them from an unlikely source: a rock. Moses strikes this rock and the water satisfies the millions of Hebrews.

Jesus is the Rock who was struck and fills our every need. He is the Living Water. John 4:11-15 describes Jesus’ encounter with a Samaritan woman. Jews did not interact with Samaritans, but Jesus reaches out to all who would receive. This woman was spiritual thirsty, as Jesus draws out the fact that she has been married 4 times and the man she lives with is not her husband. She was trying to find satisfaction in relationships, but found herself still thirsty:

The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”

Jesus is the Living, Eternal water.

If life were always satisfying, then we might never seek after God. We might be completely satisfied in the pursuits of this life. These pursuits, hobbies and talents, are not bad. They are wonderful servants...but terrible masters. It is good to spend time playing a sport or doing activities, but we must guard against living our lives for these things- if they rule our lives, we will be so unsatisfied. Only in serving Jesus do we find ultimate satisfaction, and He gives us gifts, His Holy Spirit, and eternal life.

Not only do we serve Jesus; we know Him and walk with Him. He is everything.

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” Colossians 3:23

Blessings,

Robert

New and Improved!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:30:00 +0000

New and improved! This claim guides the marketing strategy of countless products, inventions and devices. From a breakfast cereal to a smart phone, companies must continually look for ways to improve their product to stay current and appeal to more and more consumers.

The new and improved priesthood and covenant in Scripture is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ. Actually, it is not new and improved, it is the best and perfect plan. The law given to the Israelites, its weekly and yearly sacrifices, its perpetuation of human separation from God, was not sufficient. Jesus’ death on the cross, his forgiveness and the hope of eternal life is perfect.

The tabernacle set up in the desert by the Israelites, was incredible. It was where Moses would meet with the presence of God. However, all the elements in the tabernacle were just a copy or a type of the true tabernacle, heaven and the throne of God.

The old covenant given to Moses for the Hebrews never redeemed humans to God. Only a few high priests could enter the Most Holy Place and be in the presence of God. Now, in Christ, we are all given access to the throne of God. In His forgiveness and righteousness, we are in the Presence of God forever.

Jesus describes this best to his disciples in John 15:14-15 “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Under the law, the Hebrews were only allowed to serve God from a distance. Now, under the new covenant, under the priesthood of Jesus we are called the friends of God. We are no longer separated from God, and through Jesus, His Word and His Holy Spirit, we can communicate with God at every moment.

New and Improved: no longer the servants who are unable to approach the Master, you are a friend of God!

Do you know Him?

Blessings,
Robert Furrow

Don't Forget!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 02:10:00 +0000

^{“And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “I have heard the complaints of the children of Israel. Speak to them, saying, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. And you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’” ~ Exodus 16:11-12}

^{Complaining is never flattering. Imagine a child who is given a meal prepared for hours by his mother. He begins complaining and whining, saying that he or she never gets to eat anything good. This hurts the mother and creates a negative attitude in the child. We, as Christians, complain when we have selective memory, or forget what God has done for us.

Selective memory in Christianity happens when we encounter difficult or stagnant times. God has delivered us from our bondage to sin and given us His grace and the promise of eternal life. He has promised His presence is always with us. Yet, when we encounter difficult times, we tend to forget the things, even the miracles, God has done and is continuing to do for us.

How do we guard against selective memory? Learn from the mistakes, the selective memory displayed by the children of Israel in the wilderness. They have just been delivered from Egypt by incredible plagues, they were delivered from Pharoah’s army by the miraculous parting of the Red Sea, and they follow the Lord in a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. However, they still forget. They begin to get hungry, have selective memory and complain.

The Lord hears their complaints and does not rebuke them. He does not get angry. Moses does get angry, but the Lord does not. He desires to show His glory by blessing the Israelites and providing plenty of food for them: quail and manna.

God’s glory is revealed through His provisions in our lives. When we have selective memory, we must remember that God has promised His presence and that He will provide for us.

Jesus encourages His followers not to be consumed with worry and complaining: “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

The Lord cares for us, just as He cares for the children of Israel. They were to be diligent to wake up early and collect the manna. God wants us to be diligent in our lives and to follow Him and seek Him.

If selective memory and complaining is starting to creep up in your life, take a moment to remember all that God has done for you up to this point. Then, be diligent to seek Him. Work at all you do as unto the Lord (Colossians 3:23). Open your Bible, read His Word and remember!

Blessings,
Robert Furrow}

You have been set free!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 15:00:00 +0000

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” ~ Hebrews 7:25-27

In Jesus, we find perfection and freedom.

The writer of Hebrews is confronting the Judaizers, a prominent group who attacked early Christianity. The Judaizers took away the power of the Gospel by teaching that Jesus sacrifice was not enough. They encouraged Jewish Christians to return to the Levitical law of offering sacrifices repeatedly. However, Jesus came in the order of Melchizedek, who came before Levi, and the Levitical priesthood. Jesus is the Superior High Priest. There is no need to return to the Levitical priesthood.

Some exist today who still desire to return to the law. Some preach that we must keep the Sabbath on Saturday and follow all of the regulations for rest, such as walking no more than a mile, not cooking or preparing certain foods, etc. We do not need to keep the law and the Sabbath because Jesus is our rest! We can rest at any moment in the work that Jesus has done.

We know that we fall short and can never be perfect, the law shows us this. The law was our teacher. However, the law is like a mirror, showing a person their need to wash their face. A mirror cannot clean us up. Jesus is the living water. His work on the cross cleanses us completely from the imperfection which the mirror (law) revealed.

Following a certain set of religious rules will never save us. We will never be able to keep all the rules! We must come to Jesus, receive his gift and live eternally.

If you receive Jesus, you, in the eyes of God, are perfect.

No more condemnation and bondage. Jesus is strong, where the law is weak. The law could never make you perfect, but Jesus draws us near to God in perfection. He did not offer up a sacrifice of a lamb or goat, He offered up Himself for us.

He is able to save to the uttermost: completely and fully. Every sin that we have committed can be forgiven. You may think, “My sins are too bad. I cannot know God.” If you say that, then you proclaim that Jesus’ death was not enough. That Jesus gave Himself and it was not enough.

His sacrifice is enough. Jesus will forgive you and make you into a new person. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” ~2 Corinthians 5:17

We have been set free from the law of sin and death. We are free to know and love Jesus!

Blessings,
Robert Furrow

The First Worship Song

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:00:00 +0000

“'Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?

Who is like You, glorious in holiness,

Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

You stretched out Your right hand;

The earth swallowed them.

You in Your mercy have led forth

The people whom You have redeemed;

You have guided them in Your strength

To Your holy habitation.'” ~ Exodus 15:11-13

A magnificent deliverance. A majestic Deliverer.

God opens and parts the waters of the Red Sea, delivering HIs people. Then He even closes the Sea at the perfect moment, swallowing the Egyptian army and eradicating the threat. When faced with the power and presence of God, Moses leads the people in the first recorded song in Scripture, the first worship song.

God wants us to be worshippers. Our lives are to be poured out as worship before the Lord. Jesus spoke on worship in His conversation with the woman at the well. She was trying to distract Him by arguing about where a person worships. Jesus responds that a time is coming when all may worship God:

John 4:21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

We can put on a facade when we worship God, rather than being genuine and truly worshipping God. We are to worship God in one accord. Worship is of the heart. Let us be worshippers. Enter into worship. This refers to music during a service. When the songs are playing and others are singing. Engage in this worship. Really think about the words and the powerful God whom we worship. It is good to raise our hands as we rejoice and reach out to the God we serve. Let us engage in this opportunity to join together corporately to bless God in song.

Moses and the children of Israel worship corporately. This song of Moses praises God for who He is and thanks Him for what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do. This worship put things in perspective. Thus, the people are then challenged to continue their journey with a heart of thankfulness.

We were made to glorify God. Life is not about us. This can be hard to swallow, especially in our individualistic society, where we are told to make success for ourselves. However, true joy and satisfaction in life comes from a relationship with God, a relationship where we are devoted and committed to the glory of God.

“The sun shall no longer be your light by day, Nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you;

But the Lord will be to you an everlasting light, And your God your glory...

Also your people shall all be righteous; They shall inherit the land forever,

The branch of My planting, The work of My hands, That I may be glorified.” Isaiah 60:19, 20

We worship God for who He is. We worship and praise God for what He has done, what He will do and what He is going to do. One day, this world will pass away and the Lord will be our glory. What a celebration!

Begin worshipping God today, in songs of praise and in a life lived not for us, but for God’s glory.

Not To Us

The cross before me the world behind
No turning back, raise the banner high
It's not for me, it's all for You

Let the heavens shake and split the sky
Let the people clap their hands and cry
It's not for us, it's all for You

Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory

Our hearts unfold before Your throne
The only place for those who know
It's not for us, It's all for You

Send Your holy fire on this offering
Let our worship burn for the world to see
It's not for us, It's all for You

The earth is shaking, the mountains shouting
It's all for You
The waves are crashing, the sun is raging
It's all for You
The universe spinning and singing
It's all for You
The children dancing, dancing, dancing
It's all for You, It's all for You

My all for You
Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory

Blessings,

Robert

Let Me Introduce...Melchizedek!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +0000

“For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.” ~ Hebrews 7:1-3

It is All about Jesus.

This is the thesis or theme of the book of Hebrews. The book contains verse after verse and chapter after chapter dedicated to Jesus’ supremacy. He is God. He is the Creator. His sacrifice has paid the price for sins. Now, the writer turns to how Jesus’ priesthood precedes and supersedes the Levitical priesthood found in Exodus, because he is in a different priestly order, that of Melchizedek. Melchizedek is a type of Jesus whose encounter with Abram precedes the birth of Levi and the Levitical Law.

Through the encounter with Melchizedek we find how to have a rich life: through trusting God and giving Him everything.

Abram meets the priest Melchizedek in Genesis 14. Five kings come and fight against Abraham, or Abram at this time. They capture Lot, Lot’s family, and plunder Abram’s goods. Abraham is a man of means and he gathers together his men, fights against the five kings and reclaims Lot and his goods. Then he gives a tithe to the King of Salem, or Righteousness, or the High Priest Melchizedek.

Melchizedek presents Abram with bread and wine. These are the same symbols that Jesus chooses to take with His disciples as a remembrance of his body and blood. Melchizedek blesses Abram and Abram pays a tithe.

Immediately following Abram’s generosity to this Melchizedek, the king of Sodom enters the scene. Sodom represents all the wealth and wickedness of the world. He stands in stark contrast to Melchizedek, the King of Righteousness.

The King of Sodom presents Abram with a deal. “You take the goods, but give us your people.” Abram has just tithed to Melchizedek; he might want this guarantee that Sodom will not come against him again, and he would secure wealth. See, Abram is just like us. How much money is enough? More than what we have! Right? No matter how much money we have, we always want more. We raise our standard of living to how much money we possess.

Abram refuses the security of the world; he rejects the wealth and security offered by the King of Sodom.

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” Genesis 15:1

Abram rejects the world and gains everything in God- his exceedingly great reward. Life is not found in money and stuff. Life is made rich by a relationship with God. This relationship pours out of our lives and blesses us. Our blessings are not always monetary, but God always takes care of us. Our blessings are eternal.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” ~ Ephesians 1: 3

We want to give to God. Nothing this world has to offer can ever satisfy. We belong to the Most High God, eternal in riches and blessings.

Blessings,

Robert Furrow

Trapped? Call out to God!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +0000

“And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord... And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”” ~Exodus 14:10, 13-14

Trapped, boxed in, and imminent danger approaches.

The Hebrews find themselves in this situation. They have just escaped the hand of Pharaoh, and begin to follow God outside of Egypt. They follow the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, but God leads them to the mouth of the Red Sea. The Egyptian army approaches from the rear. They are trapped. Although it looks this way from a human perspective, God uses this impossible situation to show His might and power in deliverance.

As the Hebrews see the Egyptians approaching, they cry out to God. They take their fear to the Lord and call to Him. This fervent, honest prayer, Scripture tells us, is effective.

“The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” ~ James 5:16b

We may think that we are not righteous. That is true. No one is righteous before the holiness and perfection of God. “And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags...” ~ Isaiah 64:6. However, through Jesus Christ, we are all presented as righteous before God. Jesus righteousness is imputed, or placed on our lives. Therefore, when we cry out to God, it accomplishes much.

The Israelites do one thing right. They cry out to the Lord. The next thing they say, however, reveals a wrong heart. They complain. This is not the only time that the Hebrews complain. They complain continually throughout the journey in the wilderness. This reveals a heart of ingratitude. The opposite of complaining is thankfulness. God instructs us to cry out to Him, but to approach Him with thankfulness.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:6

God moves when we cry out to Him. We do not have to be afraid or anxious when we feel trapped, like the enemy approaches us from every side. In that moment, all we need to do is call to Him, with thanksgiving, and He gives us peace. Then we watch what He will do to deliver us from the impossible situation or to show us His plan.

The Hebrews learn their weakness and God's strength as they are delivered through the miraculous parting of the Red Sea. They are trapped no more. And the Egyptians, witness God's glory. When we are trapped and God delivers us, it is to reveal our weakness, and His strength, not only to us, but to the world around us. Like the Israelites, when we call out to God, we see God who is bigger than our lives, than our plans. And we take comfort in His greatness; we find purpose.

Blessings,

Robert Furrow

Drop Anchor

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 14:30:00 +0000

“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” ~ Hebrews 6:19-20

The cross is the crux of Christianity. It is at the cross that Jesus’ blood was shed for us and with it came the removal of our sins leading to eternal life. However, the cross was not the earliest Christian symbol. Early Christians were marked by the symbols of a fish, the isthmus, and an anchor.

Early Christian Catacomb Anchor

The anchor is seen marking the catacombs of ancient Christian burial sites. It is easy to imagine why the anchor would have been a symbol to which the early Christ follower put before them. Without an anchor, a ship is not secure. It drifts and with it drifts the livelihood that it offers.

We have the promises of Christ. However, as time goes on, and difficult storms weather our lives, we can lose hope and even drift away. It is easy to lose hope, if we are not anchored to the hope and promises found only in Christ. We commit everything in faith. We run with endurance. The Christian walk is one step at a time. I would rather settle down and jog my marathon than sprint and lose endurance.

When we feel sluggish in our faith, we hang on to faith. What is faith? Faith believes in God, that He will do what He promised and that we will follow no matter what. Regardless of feelings, we drop anchor.

How do we securely anchor our lives rather than be tossed by the storms of life?

First, we drop anchor in the promises of God. Every promise we find in Scripture will come to pass. There is not a promise that He will break. Here in Hebrews 6 is the example of God’s promise to Abraham. God promised that he would give Abraham a son and through his Seed, meaning Jesus, all the nations of the earth would be blessed. Abraham was given this promise when it seemed unlikely. Abraham and Sarah were old. Eventually, about 25 years after he received the promise, Abraham and Sarah finally have a son. Through patience and faith, Abraham received this sure promise from the hand of God. Be anchored in God’s promises.

Second, we cling to the immutability of God. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. The same God whose promise to Abraham came to fruition, is the same God who promises eternal life and peace for us today. God will never change. This gives us confidence. He will never break His promises.

Last, we drop anchor in the hope of Jesus. We speak of hope often in English as an uncertainty. We say, “I hope I win the lottery.” Hope in the Bible speaks of surety and certainty. The hope of eternity is a sure thing; it will come to pass! And this hope ought to change the way we live today. The hope, behind the veil is Jesus. It is not just the promises. Our hope is in a Person who is coming back. We cling not to a thing, but a Person who has not forgotten us, who is thinking of us, and gave His Spirit as a promise. Jesus is the commander who learns of a soldier in captivity and says, “I’m coming back for you.”

If there is anything that will keep us from drifting off and losing hope, it is Jesus. Be anchored in the security of Jesus, the Person whose Promises never fail.

Blessings,
Robert Furrow

Where You Lead, I Will Follow

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +0000

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people” ~Exodus 13:21-22

When I choose which car to buy or which house to rent, it would be great to be led by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. Imagine, as I look across the car lot, God, in a giant pillar of cloud leads me to the perfect car, and I follow!

Though God no longer leads us by a pillar of cloud by day or fire by night, we are led in just a miraculous and powerful way. We are led by the Word of God. The entire Bible, this book by which God speaks and leads out lives through the Holy Spirit, can be read from cover to cover in 70 hours. Now, the Bible does not tell you specifics, like what to buy or who to marry, but it does describe the qualities of good decisions, and the qualities of great spouses. The Bible did not tell me to marry Lisa, but it did tell me the qualities of a godly wife that I saw in her. Then, once I was married, the Bible instructed me in how to be a godly husband for a marriage that was so successful.

The Bible is every bit as miraculous as a pillar of fire or cloud. Maybe, even more so. The prophecies in the Bible are more accurate and specific than any other work.

Consider Psalm 22:16-18 “For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.”

Psalm 22 is clearly talking about crucifixion and Jesus crucifixion, specifically. However, the Psalms were found in the Dead Sea Scrolls which were penned at least 400 years before Christ. David lived 1000 years before Christ and hundreds of years before crucifixion was even invented as a form of execution! This is just one of the prophecies. You can check these prophecies yourself to grow in your faith. In Scripture, we find 350 prophecies about Jesus the Messiah alone.

Some great books are A Case for Faith by Lee Strobel and Evidence That Demands A Verdict by Josh McDowell. Or you could spend a couple of hours on www.blueletterbible.org looking through Biblical prophecies.

If the Bible is reliable in prophecy, then it is going to be reliable in other areas. Do you trust the Word of God? Read it, and live by it. Perhaps, when we feel that God is not speaking to us, it is because of our own unbelief and disobedience. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, "Abstain from every form of evil." Are we running away from even the appearance of evil? To experience the leading of God, we must be obedient to His Word. It is perhaps more miraculous than the pillars.

By faith, they had to follow the pillars. By faith, we must follow the Word of God.

Blessings,

Robert Furrow

Don't Cross the Line!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +0000

“And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” ~ Hebrews 6:11-12

A young child is walking with his father in the Grand Canyon. The young child asks, “Dad, how close can I go to the edge without falling off?” Doubtless, this question strikes horror in the father and he replies, “Stay right next to me! Don’t even go near the edge.”

Scripture describes that in Christianity, there is a line, a spiritual edge of a cliff where we may fall away from Christ. What is the line? How do we know if we have crossed it? Scripture declares that salvation is available to all who receive Christ (John 1: 12). However, Scripture also urges believers to walk with Christ, keep the faith, abide in the Vine (2 Corinthians 13:5, John 15:5). Hebrews 6:4-6 states, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

Consider the tension that exists in modern Christianity with the doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved.” Some groups believe and argue the point that a person cannot lose their salvation. The other group believes that you can lose your salvation. Calvary Chapel tends to lean towards the fact that we must be diligent to stay in the faith and heed the many warnings in Scripture against apostasy. However, I never want to approach the Scripture through the lens of my own ideology. I want to look at Scripture honestly.

What does this passage truly mean? Let’s look at it honestly with a fresh mind. This passage is very direct. It says that it is impossible to renew a person to repentance after they fall away. This goes against the doctrine that once a person is saved, they are always saved. People who argue this theology tend to deal with this passage by saying that the words “enlightened” and “tasted” simply mean a person who has dabbled in Christianity. However, that would mean that anyone who ever explores Christianity cannot come to repentance. This argument is like Biblical gymnastics to try and fit a particular passage into a particular ideology.

To take an honest look at the text reveals that the word tasted is the same word used to describe Jesus tasting death (Hebrews 2:9). This does not mean that Jesus just dabbled in death. It, in fact, means the opposite! When Jesus tasted death, he died and took the punishment of death for all mankind! So then, if a person who fully tasted Christianity, a person who is truly saved, falls away, they can never be renewed to repentance.

When I was a youth pastor, a few students came to me with their Bibles open to Hebrews 6. They explained to me that they had walked away from the Lord and were afraid because they could never come back. I asked, “Well, do you want to follow Christ?” They replied, “Yes! But we don’t think we can.” These students had not crossed the line. They still had a desire to follow Christ. They needed to make some life changes immediately and follow Christ wholeheartedly.

Only God knows what that line is that you cannot cross. Hebrews 6 shows that there is a line that a person can cross where they will never want to come back again. I do believe it is very difficult to cross this line. Jesus says He will leave the 99 to go after the 1 who is lost! I walked away from the Lord for a year, and He called me back to Himself. There is security in Christ. No controversy exists surrounding the fact that when a person walks close to the Lord, they are saved.

Like the young child, we may ask, “How close can I get to the line and still be saved?”

Jesus responds, “Just stay close to me. You will be safe.”

Blessings,

Robert

A New Era

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Revelation 21:5a

Few events in history have changed the world, even to usher in a new era. The Birth of Christ is one such event: dividing recorded history into BC and AD. Our world, our history is divided by the era before the Messiah and after the Messiah. We see ourselves in the same way, before we met Christ and after, changing our lives forever.

The birth of Christ is not the only event which changed history. Recorded in Exodus 12, is the Passover sacrifice which begins a new era for the Israelites. From this point on, the Passover will mark the first month, the beginning of the year for the Israelites:

“Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, ‘This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.’”~ Exodus 12:1-2

The Passover foreshadows the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross. The sacrifice of the Passover lamb caused the angel of death to ‘pass over’ that household. They escaped the death of their firstborn child. In the same way, when we accept Jesus and His sacrifice, we literally identify ourselves with Christ. It is as if we mark our household, our lives with Christ and thus, we escape the final enemy: death.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” ~ Revelation 12:11

During the Passover, the lamb was not only sacrificed, it was completely consumed by the members of that household. In the same way, we are not to simply take a taste of the life of Christ. We are to give ourselves completely to Christ and identify with Him.

Say to the Lord, “I give you everything, all my struggles, all my weaknesses.” He forgives you and thus begins a new era, one that will continue into eternity.

The Passover lamb was to be consumed with bitter herbs. This points to the bitterness, the tribulation, the difficulties through which we must persevere in this word until we are taken up to be with Jesus in heaven.

The day of the Passover, was a day of deliverance and rejoicing for the children of Israel, yet a day of sorrow for the Egyptians. The day that Jesus returns, will be a day of great rejoicing for us; however, for those who do not accept the sacrifice of Jesus, it will be a day of sorrow and confusion.

Welcome the new life that is found in Jesus. If you truly believe this, live your lives in such a way that you are ready for the return of Christ. Maranatha! Come, Lord, quickly!

Blessings,

Robert Furrow

We will overcome by Jeremy Camp

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love
Destined to die, poured out for all mankind
God's only Son, perfect and spotless one
He never sinned but suffered as if He did

All authority
Every victory is Yours
All authority
Every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory
Worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever
Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame

Power in hand speaking the Father's plan
You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb
And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

Believe and Receive

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 14:08:00 +0000

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

You must believe and receive. God draws you to Himself and you believe and receive Him. It is only by the power of the Spirit that you can repent, which literally means “change your mind.” It is impossible to change our mind about sin on our own ability! Sometimes, the more we want to change, the more difficult it is to actually change. Most New Year’s resolutions are broken on January 1. True repentance requires regeneration, becoming a new creation.

True salvation is so simple. It is all about believing and receiving.

In John 11, where Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, he comments on resurrection. By believing and receiving, we are promised resurrection from the dead to eternal life. I first taught this passage when I was 25 and I thought I knew everything. Now, after losing my wife and holding on to the hope of eternal life, I see this passage in a whole new light.

A year and three months ago, my wife went into the hospital for some chest pain. After a CT and a biopsy, we discovered she had stage four lung cancer. This was a barrage of bad news until we discovered she had a particular gene marker which qualified her for targeted gene therapy. This gene therapy worked incredibly well until August, when we discovered it had begun to fail.

Throughout, I found myself wondering, “Why when God is using Lisa in such a powerful way, would she get sick.” This same question, “Why?” could have been asked of Lazarus. Truly, God’s ways are higher than our ways, but this passage in John aids in understanding “Why?”

Jesus receives word that Lazarus is dying and yet, he stays two more days. Lazarus dies. Jesus does not answer Mary and Martha’s prayers for healing. John 11:5 states that Jesus loves Mary and Martha, but He does not come immediately.

Sometimes, God does not give a positive answer to our most heartfelt cries and prayers. There were cries and prayers made for Lazarus, and Lisa. God could have healed them, but He does not. Martha asks this of Jesus.

“Why?”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

Maybe you are in the midst of pain and a struggle. I completely and totally relate. Three weeks ago, I witnessed my wife take her last breath. To me, she died. For her, she took her first step into eternity. This is God’s perspective. Lisa never died.

We may ask, “Why?”

Jesus asks, “Do you believe?” Death is not the end. Jesus has triumphed over death. He asks of Martha, and of us, “Do you believe this?”

Yes! Through the pain, we trust and believe that death is not the end. Through believing and receiving Jesus, we live. Jesus knows eternity and He knew Lazarus would be raised from the dead, yet He still weeps. He hurts. Lazarus is the preview to the resurrection. Though we know eternity is real and our loved ones who believed and received are there, it still hurts. But we believe.

We are all terminally ill. Death in this mortal body knocks at the door.

Yet, we believe and receive eternal life.

Blessings,

Robert

Give Him Everything!

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Then he said to them, “The Lord had better be with you when I let you and your little ones go! Beware, for evil is ahead of you. Not so! Go now, you who are men, and serve the Lord, for that is what you desired.” And they were driven out from Pharaoh’s presence. ~ Exodus 10:10-11

Egypt is a type of the world and Pharoah is a type of Satan. The first thing that Satan tries to do is to get you to compromise. You might even catch yourself saying things like, “Before I was a Christian, my life was easy!” When you try and stand for Christ, the Enemy wants you to fail. He will do anything he can to stop you from following Christ wholeheartedly and being effective.

Religiosity is one of the greatest enemies to true Christianity. Religion gives people a false sense of security, where a person can go drinking on Friday or Saturday night, and then go to church on Sunday and say or do certain religious acts to make that person feel righteous.

The difference between religiosity and true Christianity is an attitude of the heart, it is giving everything to God. It is the difference between the fanatic that wears a jersey and an Olympic athlete. A fan simply puts on a jersey, but an athlete devotes years of his or her life to perfecting a particular sport or skill. Satan wants you to be ineffective. He does not want you to run like an Olympic athlete.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ~ Matthew 22:35-38

Jesus calls His followers to love Him with everything. Everything.

See, just as Pharoah tries to get Moses to compromise by just taking the men and leaving the women and children, Satan will try and get you to compromise. He will say, just live for yourself and go to church on Sunday. This is not living fully surrendered to Christ. This is a life of mediocrity and comfort. Jesus has given you a call and a purpose.

The people around you are perishing without hope. You were not called to Christ to keep truth to yourself! You ought to be praying every day for those around you that do not know Christ. Pray every day that they would know and experience the hope of eternity, forgiveness of all sins, and a relationship with Jesus!

The Gospel is so powerful. Do not be afraid to share it. About 20 years ago, I did marriage counseling with a couple that did not know Christ. I shared the Gospel with them, that Jesus died on the cross and rose again and anyone who receives Him can be forgiven of all sin. I told them that living for Christ is the best way to ensure a successful marriage. At the end of counseling, I asked them if they would like to receive Christ. Through tears, they acknowledged their need and prayed to receive Christ. Their marriage endures to this day.

When we surrender our lives to Christ, we should not leave anything behind. God wants everything.

Blessings,
Robert Furrow

Facing Transitions

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. ~ Psalm 100:4

As we are just entering a new year and a time of new transitions, it is a time to look back and be thankful. For me, the year 2012 is a year I will never forget. It brought an unimaginable change to my own life, my family, my friends and the entire body of Christ at Calvary Tucson. With the passing of my wife, Lisa, life will never be the same. Yet, I must look back and be thankful.

I am thankful for 50 out of 52 weeks spent with my wife.
I am thankful that she was healthy and active enough to hike an intense path in Hawaii.
I am thankful that 2 months and 2 weeks ago, she was strong enough to be present at the birth of my grandson and cut the umbilical cord.

I am thankful for my wife. As I look into 2013, I see an entire year without her.

We all experience transitions and changes. Life is not static. We experience the joy of a birth or wedding, the stress of a new job, and the sorrow of illness or loss. Yet, an unchanging God always reminds us of His promises. I trust Him.

Genesis 6 introduces Noah, a man who follows God in a world that is diametrically opposed to Him. People do not call upon the name of the Lord and so much evil exists that God is sorry that He ever made man. In the midst of this, Noah stands out:

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. ~ Genesis 6: 8

Then, Noah faces a major transition, and this transition is not easy. The world will change entirely. It will go from a world where there was no rain, to months of flooding. He will go from one of thousands of people living on earth, to one of 8 people living on earth.

After the rain has come and the waters have receded, God speaks to Noah. “Then God spoke to Noah, saying, ‘Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you.’” ~Genesis 8:15b-16

He tells Noah to get off the boat and establish his family. Noah obeys. In the midst of transition, we need to listen to God and obey. He does not speak cryptically. He speaks simply and powerfully through the Word of God. It is as simple as doing what the Bible says. God tells Noah to get off the boat and he does. When the Bible tells us to be anxious for nothing, to enter into His courts with thanksgiving, and to love God and others-- we need to obey.

Secondly, we need to remember the promises of God. God promises Noah that He will never flood the earth again. Every time a rainbow appears in the sky, we are reminded of that promise. When we enter a transition, perhaps one that is difficult, we cling to the promises of Jesus.

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” ~ 1 John 3:2

We do not know what next year will hold. But God is with us through the burdens and the blessings. He knows what you will face and He is with you.

Which Way The Wind Blows by 2nd Chapter of Acts

Feel a Feeling
Say a Saying
But you'll still be lonely
If you think life is only for this moment

Do a Doing
Mourn a mourning
Still won't get you off your sorrow
So go ahead and cry, but you can't pry a look at
Tomorrow

Run a Running
Hide a Hiding
Whenever you hear the truth
And when you ask for the proof, you won't listen.
Listen

Praise a praising
Build a building
Trying to get peace into your life
And you don't even know wrong from right
Oh, Where is your wisdom

You don't know which way the wind blows
So how can you plan tomorrow
You don't know which way the wind blows
So how can you plan tomorrow

Die a dying
Resurrecting
By believing and receiving
Forgiveness from Jesus who took the sin from sinning

You don't know which way the wind blows
So how can you plan tomorrow
Jesus knows which way the wind blows
So how can you plan tomorrow

Believe Him and receive

Blessings,
Robert Furrow

Time To Get Back To Work

noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Robert Furrow) — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 04:07:00 +0000

7:12PM...NewYears Eve...2012

It has been two weeks and two days since I said goodbye to my wife of 30 years. She was my companion, my love and my favorite. I could fill pages describing her and telling you about our relationship.

For now, I simple write: spending time with Lisa was effortless. It was easier to be with my wife than by myself. No pressured small talk. No awkward pauses. Just there together sharing, laughing, harassing... It was our way.

Tonight, two weeks after losing her to cancer, I will stand behind the pulpit again, and preach the message God has given me to share, not because I am ready, or it’s been enough time. In fact, I assure you that I am not ready and there has not been enough time. But there is a cause, a call. There are people who have never met the wonderful Jesus, who brought me and my wife together. There are people living in a quiet desperation, who need Hope for living today and of eternity to come.

So, tonight, I return to preaching the only message that can truly change a person’s life: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Lives will be changed. God will save, forgive and restore, any person who will come to Jesus. Believe and receive.

Tonight, it’s time to get back to work!

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” ~ Ephesians 2:10

Blessings,
Robert Furrow