3/19/2012 ReachableScriptures: Mark 5:21-34, Acts 17:23-28
There is a song lyric that says: "reach for something or fall for everything?" Ask yourself: do you have something you are reaching for? Something your stretching for? Something to get to, to go as far as, to arrive at? Something to grasp or touch? In this life we live we all need something we are reaching for: an arrival point. We need more than just challenges of life; challenges without goals and hope cause bewilderment. Bewilderment is confusion and an internal tangle. The Bible tells us that Satan is the author of confusion, not God! In these verses we read about a woman who had an incurable condition: constant bleeding that caused physical and social issues. She suffered many things of many physicians, spent all her money, and rather than get better, she grew worse. Imagine the mental state she must have been in. "But when she had heard of Jesus," she found something to reach for. "She came in the press behind," (showing that obstacles don't matter) and touched His garment. Why did she do this: "If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole." She had a goal with obstacles, but it was achieveable. The moment she touched Him she was healed! Jesus said: "Thy faith hath made thee whole." Jesus is the one you should be reaching for. In this life we fall for so much, because we do not touch Him. We suffer because we put our faith in the wrong things. We need to press through all the resistance and touch Jesus. Jesus is close to us everyday and it should be our goal to touch Him. We must stretch ourselves: "because in Jesus we live, and move, and have our being." With all the challenges of life are you reaching for Jesus? The one person who can truly heal you! 3/1/2012 A Church Built on a BattlefieldScriptures: Esphesians 6:10-13
Our church is built admist the Brandywine Battlefield where the largest engagement of the Revolutionary War took place. At this battle the British sought to take Phildelphia, the current capitol, and General George Washington chose the high ground to battle in: Chadds Ford. On the day of battle in 1777, the British divided forces: one group attacked and one formed on the American's flank. The British took the ground by outwitting the Americans and in result took Philadelphia on September 26, 1777. We are building our church on a battlefield and the battle for liberty still wages. Ours is not a battle with flesh and blood, but a battle aganist sin. Sin is the oppressor. How do we build a church on a battlefield? 1) We must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might 2) We must be decisive- accept our assignment and look at where we are going, instead of where we have been 3) Be covered- we must have on the full armor of God. Remaining disciplined, because victory comes from obedience. God does not compromise with his enemy. 4) Be aware- not getting sidetracked, but remaining determined. Not getting derailed by the details,but trusting wholeheartedly in God's plan. The Americans lost the battle at Brandywine, but they won the war. We have the promise of Joshua: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.’” There will be a church built on this battlefield. Our enemy will not outwit us: we will hold the high ground. Jesus said: "I will build my church." Liberty shall reign. |
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