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WEAK MOMENTS

1/28/2019

 
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As the hunter walked through the field in the early morning mist, he thought to himself, “It’s going to be a great day!” He was the rugged, outdoors type. Nature was his habitat. He was never more at home than when he was roaming the hills in search of game.

Returning home later that evening, he was suddenly captured by the smell of food cooking on a campfire. Weak from hunger from the day’s exertions, he was drawn to the scent like a moth to a flame. Arriving at the source, he found his twin brother slowly stirring a pot of stew. How strange. It was almost as if his brother was expecting him for dinner.

Famished, he cried out, “Brother, I am starving! Please give me something to eat.” With his eyes fixed on the pot he continued to slowly stir, Jacob said, “All you can eat in exchange for your birthright.” At that moment, his birthright was the last thing on Esau’s mind. The future mattered not. Only the immediate gratification of his flesh.  

So Esau agreed to the deal and sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. Finishing the dinner he wiped his mouth on his sleeve, stood and walked away, not realizing the enormity of what had just transpired. This incident in the life of Esau is a solemn reminder of how much can be thrown away in a moment of weakness, never again to be recovered. 

Whether it’s Esau selling his birthright to Jacob, Samson telling his secret to Delilah, David committing adultery with Bathsheba, or Peter denying Christ, the common denominator in each scenario is an unguarded moment of weakness.

Weak moments are sure to come because we are human. Furthermore, the enemy is aware of our weaknesses and is sure to aim his arrows of temptation at those well known targets. Jacob didn’t ask Esau to sell his birthright after he had just eaten a full meal. He waited until he was weak with hunger. Esau’s weakness was Jacob’s opportunity, and it worked! Being aware of this strategy of the enemy can help us to always be on our guard.

Avoiding situations or relationships that have the potential of rendering us spiritually weak is another good battle plan. Just as Superman avoided kryptonite, we can avoid the things that amplify our weakness and diminish our righteous resolutions.

The best defense of all is to stay close to Jesus who, though tempted in His moment of physical weakness, overcame and did not sin. Come to think of it, one of the first songs I sang in church  as a young boy included this line, “We are weak, but He is strong.”  ​

Lean on Jesus every moment of every day. Depend on His all-sufficient grace to see you through and you will be able to testify with Paul, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).


Pastor Todd Weston

TROUBLE MAKER

1/22/2019

 
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Times were hard in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Wicked King Ahab and his ruthless wife, Jezebel, led Israel down a dark path. It’s a biblical adage that when the godless reign, wickedness increases. Unprecedented wickedness was definitely on the rise in Israel.  
That’s when the prophet Elijah waltzed into the royal throne room and announced to Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!” (1 Kings 17:1).  And with that, the prophet left town.

What followed was a miserable drought that lasted 3 1/2 years (James 5:17).  It was well into the third year of the drought that Elijah requested a meeting with the king. 1 Kings 18:17 notes, “When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, ‘So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?’”

Isn’t that interesting. Wicked King Ahab called Elijah a troublemaker and accused him of being the source of Israel’s problems.  Elijah quickly set the record straight in verse 18, “‘I have made no trouble for Israel,’ Elijah replied. ‘You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.’”

When the wicked have their way, sin increases. And when sin increases, so does trouble! But then, a righteous man or woman comes along. They dare to take a stand and speak the truth in love. They refuse to look the other way. And for this they are looked upon as a troublemaker.  
In case you haven’t noticed, there is a new narrative in America today. According to this narrative, Bible believing Christians are the real troublemakers in the country. Not the drug dealer. Not the peddler of smut. Not the violent gang member, or crooked politician. No, the source of America’s problems are those who cling to God and the Bible. 

A wise king once said, “Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). We get that, in spite of what others say. But may I make a suggestion? When it comes to Satan’s kingdom of darkness, go ahead and be a troublemaker!

Give the devil a migraine. Disrupt his plans. Create havoc in the corridors of hell. Pray down confusion upon his evil strategies. Check him at every turn. Turn his world upside down. Throw his diabolical program into a state of disarray by exposing satanic lies with biblical truths.  ​

Was Elijah a troublemaker for Israel? Of course not! But he was a troublemaker for a wicked king and queen who were intent on dragging their nation into unmitigated evil. So go ahead and be a troublemaker in a righteous way. Resist the wrong. Stand for the right. Fight the good fight of faith.


Pastor Todd Weston

KEPT

1/22/2019

 
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“Now to Him who is able to keep you…” (Jude 24). A lot is said about God’s saving power, and rightly so. Hebrews 7:25 tells us Jesus Christ is able to save to the uttermost. That means when God saves He does so completely, fully, perfectly. There is no power in the universe greater than God’s ability to entirely save anyone who calls on Him, at any time, at any place, in any situation.

Here is an another amazing thought. God’s ability to keep is equal to His power to save. The idea in Jude 24 is God’s ability to keep us from suffering a spiritual fall. When a believer stumbles, you can be sure God isn’t to blame. As one preacher stated it, “His grip don’t slip!” God is perfectly able to keep those who want to be kept.

In 2 Timothy 2:12 Paul expanded the thought of God’s keeping ability when he wrote, “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.”  

Have you ever committed something to a family member or friend only for them to lose it? That will never happen with the Lord. Think of all the things you have committed to Him; not the least of which is your eternal soul. When you stand before the Lord in eternity, He will say to you as He said to the Father in John 17:12, “Those whom you gave Me I have kept.” Nothing entrusted to His care will be lost. 

I have thought back over the years of all the things God has kept our family through. Life can be rough, and full-time ministry can present its own unique set of challenges. And yet God has kept us through it all.  

We can all reflect on the things God has kept us through. I believe one of the great revelations of heaven will be all the things God kept us from.

Again, this is an amazing thought when you remember we have a diabolical enemy bent on our destruction. Luke 11:21 refers to this enemy as “a strong man fully armed.” Satan is the strong man who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Sadly, he is having his way in the wrecked lives of far too many people. Ruined lives are the calling card of the enemy.

Thankfully, there is hope. In answer to the “strong man” of Luke 11:21 is the “stronger man” of Luke 11:22. The stronger man is Jesus who overcomes Satan, breaks his grip, takes away his armor, and divides his spoils. Though we have a mortal enemy bent on our destruction, we have an even stronger Redeemer whose ability to save and keep is infinitely greater.  

We live in a dangerous world, and the presence of Satan is real. With that in mind, consider how foolish and reckless it is to live life without Jesus Christ. He is the only one who is able to keep you through the perils and pitfalls of life. So don’t attempt going it alone. Depend every moment on “Him who is able to keep you.”


This Sunday at RLA --

It’s the most debated book ever written. It’s been banned and burned more than any other book in history. In spite of it all, it’s the best selling book of all time. This is no ordinary book I’m talking about. Divine in origin, extraordinary in endurance, and supernatural in capability, the Bible is unlike any other book in the world. The Bible can save your life. So bring your Bible to RLA this Sunday at 9:30am as we delve more into our series — THE BOOK.


Pastor Todd

A GOOD START

1/10/2019

 
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How do you start your mornings? Do you start by turning on the television? Do you start the day by reading the news, or checking the latest scores on ESPN, or looking at your email, or catching up with friends on Facebook?

How something begins is very important. A bad start can lead to a poor finish.

Psalm 5:3 tells us how to get each day off to a good start. “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up.” That verse was written by David, the man after God’s own heart. David determined to start his mornings with God. Some people say, “Good Lord, it’s morning!” David chose to say, “Good morning, Lord!”

I understand we are not all morning people, and we all have busy schedules. But there seems to be something about starting the day with God that just works. Maybe it’s the first fruits principle presented over and over again in the Bible in places like Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” According to the first fruits principle --

  • If we give God the first fruits of our financial increase, He blesses the rest.
  • If we give God the first day of the week for worship, He blesses the rest.
  • And if we give God the first part of our day, He blesses the rest.
Maybe we would be better prepared to face the day if we started it with God. Maybe things would just go better if we began each day talking to God. Just read through the 5th Psalm. It begins with prayer in the morning (vv1-3). It ends with protection, joy, blessing, and favor (vv11-12). Who wouldn’t want that?

Consider again what David said in Psalm 5:3, “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You.” That is prayer directed. Some people talk about prayer in a general sense. But it isn’t just the act of praying that counts, but the object to whom you pray.  You can pray to the wind and nothing will happen. Prayer directed to the Lord yields results.

David went on to say, “and I will look up.” That is prayer expected. Having started his mornings with prayer, David spent the rest of the day looking for the answers that were sure to come. It’s true that we have not because we ask not. I believe it is equally true that we have not because, even when we do pray, we expect not!​

Along with the Bible, be sure to start your mornings with prayer. Cast your burdens on the Lord every day. Make your needs known. Dare to ask for the impossible. Then like David, go through the day “in the strength of the Lord” (Psalm 71:16) looking up in faith for the answers God has promised.


Pastor Todd Weston

    Pastor Todd

    Lead Pastor
    River of Life
    Assembly of God

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