Rebuilding Life After the Storm!

"Rise up and let us rebuild"  ~Nehemiah 2:18

One of the most devastating things to see or experience is the aftermath of a "deadly" storm. Deadly, because its delivery comes with such fury that it nearly takes out everything in its path. Some storms seem to head directly for a certain place, as if it is seeking revenge for some vendetta that it has, and leaving little to no time to prepare for  its arrival. Many times, when the storm has ended, there is a horrible reminder of its presence that is left behind. Damage and debris left as a boast of its unmatchable power. Victims of such storms are left with questions of:

What do I do now? and Where do I go from here?  How do I begin again? and Where do I even start?  These questions and more rise to the surface desperately seeking answers on how to live life after the storm.

I can't help but to think about the similarities that storms of nature have to the storms of life that we experience as we go from day to day. Unlike nature's storms, the storms of life come for the believer with EXPECTED outcomes. The Enemy tends to hurl storms in an effort to destroy what you have built permanently, while God tends to allow storms , leaving behind the necessary tools to rebuild. Just like nature's storms, the storms of life also come with power and fury, causing one to wonder if a particular storm has some sort of vendetta that is going on against you. Well, when I looked up the word Vendetta, I found out that,  A Vendetta is a very long and violent fight or battle between two groups of people, and as long as you and I are living there will always be a standing vendetta against us. Always something coming out of the Enemy's camp trying to dismantle life as we know it!

Some of us have suffered through strong storms and damaging winds, and we're still sifting through the debris, trying to salvage anything that is worth holding on to! Still trying to pick up the pieces in an effort to get back what the Devil stole from us. Trying to rebuild what was torn down, when that job was lost, when that marriage failed, when that diagnosis came out of the doctor's mouth, when they came and got that car, when they put foreclosure on your door! or you lost someone near and dear to your heart, dismissing years that you thought you would have with them.....Still trying to recover from the storm that seemed to have your name on it as it ascended upon your life, giving you no time to take shelter! what do I  do now, where do I go, and how will I ever ...ever start again?

I hear God saying, "it's time!" ......."It's time to rebuild! You don't have to worry about a thing, because everything you need to rebuild with is in your hands! Christ has already laid the foundation, all you have to do is start rebuilding! You see, in 1st Corinthians, you are called a Master Builder, so you have what it takes to rebuild that dream, you have what it takes to rebuild that relationship, that career, that failing faith, and that lost hope! 

What do you do now? Pick up a brick and start building!
Let it be said, as it was said in Nehemiah 2:18;

 "Let us rise up and rebuild!" 

Don't allow the storms of life to stop your progress!

"For somebody out there, you have been sifting through debris
 for so long that you have given up....Well,  instead of rummaging
 through things of the past, find yourself a brick and start rebuilding!

That brick is Jesus! Your Rock! Your cornerstone and foundation!

"For some, doors have been closed for so long that when God begins to open them, you're afraid to walk through them!

 .....stop digging through the rubble; get yourself up, and walk through that door....

your life is waiting for you!"

Satan has lied to you! He has told you that your storm has ruined your chances of ever rebuilding, and now that opportunity is knocking, you're afraid to get the door!


Rise up! 
Rise up and let the Enemy know that there is still purpose within you!

Rise up...you are a Master Builder and you have been equipped
with every tool you need to rebuild what is yours!

Rise up....rise up and let us rebuild!...

because there is life after the storm!


Prayer:

Father God in the name of Jesus we want to say thank you! we

thank you because you have given us all that we need to rebuild

what the storms have torn down. Lord, speak to the Master

Builder in all of us and give us the strength and the courage to

allow you to see us through to completion and restoration. 
Amen

Lord Is It I?

 

 

 

 

 

 (When Betrayal Becomes Denial)

 

Most of you know the story of both Judas and Peter and their roles leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus. Judas betraying him and Peter (called, the Rock), denying fellowship and even acquaintance with him. So, tonight, I want to talk to the Judas in us as believers, as well as, the Peter in us, as “so called” sold out followers of Christ in this day and age. Like Peter, there may be some, who even now, are saying; “I would never deny Christ….. I have always, and will always stand for Him!” ..and if that is you, “praise God!” …..However, for ME! I have noticed that in my walk with the Master, I have had some Judas and Peter moments! And watch this! ….it was WHILE, I was walking with Him; “so called” trusting Him, and all the while singing, “I am sold out! My mind is made up! Let’s look at some verses, as we seek God’s help in revealing to us any “dysfunctions” in our relationship with Him, that may find us betraying his trust and denying our allegiance to Him. SOMEBODY SAY, LORD, IS IT I?

Verse:10-11

So, here we find Judas “seeking” out ways to betray Jesus. Where do we find ourselves in this passage of scripture? This scripture speaks to the compromiser! The one, who, for the right price, will sell their allegiance to him.  Self-gratification, Disobedience, and Self Will, can find you in this verse. A range of sins, paving the road that you are walking on with Jesus. SOMEBODY SAY, LORD IS IT I? Am I compromising with the Enemy, because of my lack of faith and allegiance, to the Man, who called Me to follow Him? If your trust in God’s plans are not “rooted” and anchored into WHO he really is, you just might find yourself seeking ways to “opt out” of what he is calling you to. Judas decided to “opt out” in the form of betrayal… while Peter opted out for convenience sake, by way of denial. Isn’t it easy to follow Christ, as long as we don’t have to prove our association with him? But what happens, when he sends a test of our loyalty? In what ways have you found yourselves “opting out” by playing footsies with the Enemy, when he presented moments of “self-pleasure” or personal gain, as payment?

 

Verse: 17-20

Here, Jesus wants us to know that he knows what we are going to do, before we even do it! Imagine being at the SIS conference, all of us seated at a large table, having brunch and Jesus making the announcement that, “one of you will betray me?” I can imagine that we would be looking at one another in fear, and asking the Lord… is it I? Not necessarily because we think it is us, but because, it is at that moment when we remember God’s ability of “knowing the heart of man” …What a moment of reckoning, when Jesus has located deceitful hearts! And brings it to our attention! Jesus goes on to answer, that “it is one who dips with me in the dish, who will betray me”. This was probably disheartening, because what he is saying is, this! “It is one of you, who walks with me; it’s one of you, who talks with me; It is one who teaches about me, who sings songs of Zion, and who is even able to sit in my midst as early as 5:30 every morning, soaking up the new mercies that I have given for the day” ….SOMEBODY SAY, LORD IS IT I?  These verses speak to those of us who have not totally “surrendered” our ways to God. He’s saying, I know who you are, and I know what I have called you to, but you have still not surrendered your ways unto me! Could you be one, who HE is serving notice on tonight?

 

Verse: 29-31

Okay, like with Peter, these verses speak to our disbelief in our ability to “fail him”.  You know how we can do something, and then have the nerve to act bewildered, at our “slip up?” Becoming overly confident in our own abilities to live this Christian life? Always the first to say, “I got this!” “I will never turn my back on you Lord!” not I!!… I would never betray my God!! Well, God wants us to know that there are times when we think we are on track, and feel that we are doing better than most, but I am here to say that the jury is still out on that, and so we need to ask GOD to search our hearts and minds for weaknesses and urges that may threaten our integrity, where our walk is concerned. Because although we don’t want to be the one! So many times we are the one, who he is referring to. SOMEBODY SAY, LORD IS IT I?

 

Verse: 37-38

Why is it that we keep doing what is against what God would have us to do? He tells us here! We live in a time, when the Enemy is going to and fro and we must be watching and praying constantly! It is where our strength lies. If you are unable to watch even for one hour with the Master, you may find yourself betraying the call that is on your life, due to becoming too spiritually weak to be effective!  This speaks to those who say, that this walk, doesn’t take all that! Oh, but it does and before it’s over…it will! If you find yourself in this verse, you may find yourself going back and forth in your walk, more than you care to admit.

 

Verse 44-45 in these verses our compromising has now lead to our turning our back completely on Jesus in order to accomplish our own goals and desires. We “kiss the face” of Jesus in order to temporarily do an exchange of righteousness for a betrayal of God’s standards and plans for our lives. Do you know of anyone who has ever wanted something and God told them, “no”, but they bit the forbidden fruit and “settled” somewhere in between mediocre and Lord, what have I done?? Every time we step “away” from God’s Word, we do it, as we kiss His face, as to say, Lord, I love you, BUT! In turning away, there was something in it for ME! Something that I have been waiting for all of my life! That man or woman who I just can’t live without; my habit that seems to calls me, louder than my purpose does; and that compromising moment, that promises to relieve me of all of this waiting, allowing me to touch right now, that which you have not manifested in my life! LORD IS IT I?

 

Verse 69-71:

This is how betrayal can also lead to denial! We have gone from a place of compromising with the Devil, to I will NEVER turn my back! To not only turning your back, but walking away from what God expects of you, and now to a full fledge life of disobedience, while walking “with” the Master, but not “in” HIM! So, you’re asking, how have I denied my Lord and Savior? I’ve never denounced Him to anyone, like Peter did! Well, Peter denied him with his mouth, but we deny him with our lives! Confusing the World with our on again, off again religion…and our lips that sing praises on Sunday and insults on Monday…by  standing up to your faith on Tuesday, and falling into the arms of the enemy by Wednesday! In the face of adversity, we deny our association with Him, by associating with those things that God cannot be a part of! LORD, IS IT I?

This is not a study on whether or not you will fall short of the Glory of God, because I can promise you that you will! And if my word is not proof enough, then Romans 3:23, tells us that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, so what this study does hope to accomplish is helping us to become more aware of our walk with the Lord and recognizing that without totally surrendering to God, he is not able to bring us to our full potential in Him! Notice that I did not say that he would be un-able to use us, because God definitely uses less than perfect people, as well as, defiant ones who have at some point decided that they will opt out of his plan, and head for Tarsus (remember Jonah?), BUT, when God has a plan for your life, he will pursue you and then equip you right through to your purpose. (It’s the equipping that gets hard!) but is necessary, in order to bring you to that “now faith” and that steadfast, unmovable ability to walk “in Him”, no matter what the situation or circumstance; and regardless to Satan’s offers to help you to live a compromising life! Let this mind be in YOU that was also in Christ Jesus; a life of integrity and not one that seeks to betray him with a subtle “kiss” of defiance. 

In wrapping this study up, if this is you; and you have found yourself walking with Jesus, but not “in” Him; there is forgiveness at this moment! God knows that you are not perfect, but is calling you to a new place in Him! Peter was not perfect,  but  once he surrendered his shortcomings to God, God went on to exalt Peter to walking in his purpose as “the rock”. He became unmovable, and unshakeable to those things that could threaten his allegiance to the God that he served. The God that you serve is a perfect God and through Him, He will begin to raise your standards as he did with Peter! Your destiny in Him begins the moment that you realize and confess to Him, that YES, LORD, IT IS I !!!!!!  Praise God!

 

Prayer for Today:

 Lord God of our Salvation and our hope! We know that your Word will not return unto you void. It is because you are calling us to higher standards in you! We too have “kissed” your face in an effort to mask our true intentions. We want to admit to you that there are things, people, situations, and circumstances that have caused us to be bribed by Satan to accept ways of escape of the things that you are calling us to; maybe because of doubt, maybe because of fear, and maybe because we have not realized exactly who we are in you.  We seek restoration at the foot of the cross, knowing that every sin known to man was crucified there. Renew our hope and our trust in your plans for our lives and help us to walk, not only with you, but “in” you. In Jesus’ mighty name.  Amen!