James 1:27 - God wants us to be "unspotted from the world."

“keep oneself unspotted from the world.”

James 1:27

James 1:26-27 says “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” When Christians refuse to watch their words and speak rashly they are deceived in their faith. They hear the Way, the Truth, and the Life but they do not act on what they have heard. James tells us that our actions are what matter. He tells us to care for the widows and the orphans. He also states that we are to remain “unspotted from the world.” This means that we can tell by the way people talk, what they do, and if they are spotted from the world or not where they are in their walk with the Lord. We can tell whether they are true followers or not. I want you to think about a boat that is in the water. That boat doesn’t sink because it is in the water. It sinks because the water gets into it. Furthermore, Christians don’t fail to live good Christian lives in the world because they are in it. They fail to live good Christian lives because the world has gotten into them. 2 Peter 1:4 says that God has “given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these” we “may be partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (NKJV). May we make it our aim to remain “unspotted from the world.” May we keep the world out. May we be spiritually blessed by being “partakers of the divine nature having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Father, may we bridle our tongues. May we visit orphans and widows in their trouble. May we keep ourselves unspotted from the world. May the world not get into us. Thank You for Your exceedingly great and precious promises. Through those great and precious promises may we be partakers of Your divine nature. Last, but not least, may we escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. We want to have a pure and undefiled religion before You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

Acts 1:5 - Jesus baptizes us with the Holy Spirit and fire so that we will be His witnesses

“for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:5

John baptized with water. It is a symbolic washing to purify us and indicates our choice to repent and turn from all our sins. Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit. This involves the indwelling of the Holy Spirit inside of us, the third person of the trinity. Jesus was going to leave them but the Holy Spirit was going to come to be a constant presence in their lives. He says that we “shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon” us; and we “shall be witnesses” to Him in “Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). On the Day of Pentecost this came to pass. When the disciples were all with one another in one place a great sound came from heaven, the sound filled the whole house where they were sitting. The Holy Spirit burst into the room like a firestorm, flames sat upon each of them and set fire to their very souls. “Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:3-4). After the Holy Spirit touched them and they immediately became His witnesses. The Holy Spirit had been sent to indwell in them, commissioning every member to be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. Their hearts were inflamed by the love of Christ to convert his fellow-men. And the Holy Spirit gave their tongues utterance. Oh, may the Holy Spirit burst into our hearts like a firestorm. May flames sit upon each of us and may He set fire to our very souls. May the Holy Spirit give our tongues utterance as we witness for the Lord Jesus Christ to our fellow-men. May soul’s be converted all to the glory of God.

Father, we thank You for baptizing us with the Holy Spirit. We thank You that the Holy Spirit is a constant presence in our lives. We thank You that we received power when the Holy Spirit came upon us and indwelled in us. You have given us Your Spirit so that we will be a witness for the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, may the Holy Spirit burst into our hearts like a firestorm. May flames sit upon each of us and may He set fire to our very souls. May the Holy Spirit give our tongues utterance as we witness for the Lord Jesus Christ to our fellow-men. May soul’s be converted all to the glory of God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

Psalm 90:17 (NASV) - The Favor of the Lord

“Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.”

Psalm 90:17 (NASV)

God wants our relationship with Him to fill us with joy and gladness, as an advertisement to the world of His mercy, goodness, grace, and love. “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us.” The blessings of the Lord in our lives is evidence to others of His faithfulness and goodness in our lives. When they look at your life they can see that Jesus is real. They can see that He bestows His love and approval on you as a token of good will and kind regard, that He has a friendly regard or disposition towards you, that He is partial towards you, that He is loyal to you, and that He treats you favorably. This can put within them a desire to know Him too. They can see that your heart and your life is different from those that are in the world. They can see that your life has meaning and a purpose. The NKJV says “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us.” Oh, how we desire that others see the “beauty of the Lord” upon us. It goes on to say “And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.” Establish the work of our hands implies that our hands have a role and purpose in His witness to the world as well. He has appointed us to do a good work and our hands can prove that our walk and talk go hand in hand. I like what the New Living Translation says. It says “And may the Lord our God show us His approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful!” Be encouraged today. May the favor of the Lord be upon us. May our hands confirm what is in our hearts. May they be anointed to do a good work. May our efforts be successful, bringing glory to His name. Use our lives to draw others’ hearts to Christ.

    

Father, may the “beauty of the Lord” and the “favor of the Lord” be upon us. We want others to see that Your love is great and that You love them too. Use our lives to be living testimonies and to draw them to You and a life with You. Establish the work of our hands. May our acts of love and kindness be successful, producing a crop one hundred fold. We thank You for Your love. We thank You for Your grace. We thank You for Your mercy. We thank You for Your favor. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 22:3 God gives us wisdom if we want it

“Then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab; and he said to the king of Moab, ‘Please let my father and mother come here with you, till I know what God will do for me.’”

1 Samuel 22:3

David was anointed by the Lord, but even though he was anointed he did not have a detailed map of his own future. So David acted wisely in regard to the things he could do, and trusted the Lord for what he could not do. This is how it is for us Christians too. We are anointed by the Lord, but we don’t know what the future has in store for us. We are to act wisely in regard to the things we can do, and trust the Lord for what we can not do. This reminds me of the well-known Serenity Prayer that was written by Reinhold Niebuhr.

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

If you fear that you don’t have much wisdom, ask Him for it. James 1:5 says “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” This is nice to know that He gives to all liberally and without approach. He won’t leave you out. It will be given to you. God wants us to have it. Proverbs 4:5-9 says “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom.  And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor, when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.” Wisdom from the Lord is of great value. He puts it inside of us. Psalm 51:6 says “in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” What a great God we have!

Father, we thank You for making us Your own. We thank You for anointing us. We may not have been given a detailed map of our future, but we know who holds tomorrow. May we act wisely in regards to the things we can do, and trust You for the things we cannot do. Grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Give us wisdom. Give us understanding. Plant it in the hidden part of us so that we can know it. In Jesus’ name we pray and give thanks. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

Philippians 4:11 - Godliness + Contentment = Great Gain

“for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content”

Philippians 4:11

The enemy is often at work in our lives by trying to make us discontent and unhappy about something that we don’t have in our lives. People that are discontent are dissatisfied have a restless desire for something that one does not have. Since they don’t have it they are unhappy. God doesn’t want us to be this way. He wants us to be content, happy, and satisfied with what we have been given and the way things are. 1 Timothy 6:6 says that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” It goes on to say in 1 Timothy 6:7 “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.” He even tells us that if we have food and clothing … we should be content (1 Timothy 6:8). Hebrews 13:5 says “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have” (NKJV). The Message Bible says “Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have.” The Living Bible says “Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have.” Contentment is a choice that we make to be happy with what He provides for you. Sadly, most people are not content. They always seem to want more. Even more sadly is that many Christians are not content either. One thing I know about God is that He wants us to be happy with our lives. He has blessed us immensely. He wants us to be happy in Him. He wants us to love our family, friends, and those He’s put in our circle of influence. He doesn’t want us to be jealous and envious of what others have that we don’t. He wants us to be mature in the Lord. This means that if they have something we don’t we are to be happy for them. He blesses us and our life in ways that He wants to bless us. God takes excellent care of us. He gives us all that we need. I encourage you today to be happy with what He’s blessed you with. Thank Him for what He’s given you. Have a thankful and grateful heart. This will please him.

Father, You want us to be content, happy, and satisfied with what we have been given by You and the way things are. Your Word says that godliness with contentment is great gain. We know that we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. You have given us food, clothing, shelter, vehicles to drive, etc. We should be content, happy, grateful and thankful. Hebrews 13:5 says “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have” (NKJV). Lord may we be so. The Message Bible says “Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have.” Lord, may we not be obsessed with getting more material things. May we be relaxed with what we have. The Living Bible says “Stay away from the love of money; be satisfied with what you have.” Lord, may we stay away from the love of money. May we be satisfied with what we have. Contentment is a choice that we make to be happy with what You provides for us. And we thank You for all the ways that You provide. We want pure hearts. We want to see you! In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 20:42 - Friends are divine blessings in our lives

Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, since we have both sworn in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘May the Lord be between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants, forever.’”

1 Samuel 20:42

Jonathan and David were kindred spirits. The Lord was the centerpiece of their whole friendship. That is always the way to the closest and best of friendships. 1 Samuel 20:17 tells us that Jonathan “loved him [David] as he loved his own soul.” Life wasn’t always easy for Jonathan and David. But they stood beside one another and were loyal to one another as they faced adversity. We need friends too. None of us were designed to face life on our own. We need other people, and they need us. As we grow in the Lord we realize how important it is to have wise associations. They build us up in the Lord and encourage us in our everyday lives with Christ. When we were younger in the Lord we may have chosen to be close to unwise associations. Maybe we forgave them as they wronged us over and over. We chose to love them unconditionally. This is good and this is biblical, but then God had to show us that associating with them on a regular basis wasn’t good for us spiritually. Yes, we were to love them. But no, they weren’t to be our best friends. Because they didn’t walk with the Lord you continually suffered harm because of it. The Word of God says that bad company corrupts good character. Don’t be deceived. It’s ok to pull away. David and Jonathan are wonderful examples to us of what a godly friendship can provide. Jonathan looked out for David. 1 Samuel 19:1-3 shows us that Jonathan warned David of danger. 1 Samuel 19:4 shows us that when Saul was considering David as an enemy of his Jonathan stuck up for David spoke well of David telling his father that David wasn’t sinning against him and that he was being good to him. He was trying to be a peacemaker. This is a mark of a good friend. Jonathan was willing to do whatever David needed. 1 Samuel 20:4 tells us that Jonathan said to David “Whatever you yourself desire, I will do it for you.” Jonathan was even willing to risk his life defending his closest friend and companion, even against his own father who was flesh and blood since he knew that David was in the right and his father was in the wrong. His father cast a spear to kill his own son as he was angry that Jonathan had questioned him in why David should be killed. Jonathan even helped David escape when he realized that his father wanted to kill him. God wants us to have friends that’s hearts are knit together with ours. They have our back and look out for us. They have our best interest at heart. These friendships are divine blessings in our lives. Thank God for the Christian friends He has given you. Be loyal to them like Jonathan was with David. Your faith will flourish!

Father, we thank You for our Christian friends. We thank You that they are divine blessings in our lives. May You be the centerpiece of our friendships. May they encourage us in the faith, and may we encourage them in the faith too. Knit our hearts together. Bind us together with Your love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church

1 Samuel 18:28-29 Blessed are you when men hate you

“Thus Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal, Saul’s daughter, loved him; and Saul was still more afraid of David. So Saul became David’s enemy continually.”

1 Samuel 18:28-29

One wonder’s why Saul became David’s enemy. David would have lovingly served Saul and did all he could to be a blessing to him and God’s people. Saul didn’t want David’s loyalty and love. He felt threatened when he saw and knew that the Lord was with David. Saul feared for his own future instead. He didn’t trust his future to the Lord. He took matters into his own hand. He wanted to do all he could to get rid of his threat, his enemy, David. Saul cast his spear at David. He said “I will pin David to the wall!” (1 Samuel 18:11). David escaped twice. Because of Saul’s wrong heart, he had a wrong spirit at work in him. It says in 1 Samuel 19:9-10 “Now the distressing spirit from the Lord came upon Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing music with his hand. Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear [again], but he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night.” Saul gave David a position of authority by making him a captain over a thousand. He was hoping that David would fail to lead wisely and thus be discredited. This backfired. For 1 Samuel 18:14-15 tells us that “David behaved wisely in all his ways, and the Lord was with him. Therefore, when Saul saw that he behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him.” David was to marry Saul’s daughter, Michal. Saul required that David kill one hundred Philistines before he would give him her hand in marriage. Saul was hoping that David would die while he was fighting the Philistines. This did not happen, for God was with David blessing all his efforts. Then Saul pursued David continually for more than a decade. David had to live in exile moving from hiding place to hiding place. Anyone who helped David was ordered to be murdered. He even threw a spear at his own son Jonathan when he felt that Jonathan’s loyalty and love was with David. Sometimes people become our enemy because God is with us. They could have our love and friendship, but they don’t want it. We are a threat to them. They don’t like what we stand for. They are looking out for themselves and they think you interfere with their future. This is hard for us to understand and comprehend, but this is so. Just remember though that when this happens it’s not just you that they hate. It is the God in you that they hate. Jesus said in Matthew 5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” It goes on to say in Matthew 5:11-12 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” John 15:18 says “If the world hates, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” It goes on to say in John 15:19-21 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will also keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent me.” If you read on it says that people hated Jesus without cause (John 15:25). In John 17:14 Jesus prays “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.” In Romans 1:30 mentions some people that are “haters of God.” The chances are that these very same people that hate God will hate you. They don’t like what you stand for, they also don’t like what you live for. Be encouraged today. God’s Word tells us that you are blessed! His Word tells you that great is your reward in Heaven! His Word also gives you encouragement and hope for it tells you that will receive a heavenly crown if you are faithful. 2 Tim 4:8 says “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” James 1:12 says “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.”

Father, we thank You for Your love and Your faithfulness. We understand that not everyone is going to love us. We are not of this world. We are Yours. We are set apart for You. Help us to walk with You. Help us to keep our focus. Help us to be strong in the Lord and the power of Your might. May we wear the full armor of God and be able to stand. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Kimberly Lenz, Care Ministry Coordinator

Solid Rock Community Church