steadfast Archives – Sonshine's Journal

December 21, 2024December 21, 2024

12.21.24.Advent’s Song

Revelation 15 Looking Ahead…

We walk through each day like it was the day before. Nothing seems to change here on earth but in heaven God reveals that every day is unlike any we have ever experienced. His mercy and His judgment reign and we are given a glimpse into the very presence of God as He unleashes His angelic forces to complete His judgment. In the midst of this we are witness to the “choir” of those who were like the three Hebrews in Daniel 3. They were steadfast and never compromised. This is their time to bask in the glory of the Lord.

Great and astounding are your deeds,

Lord God, the All-Powerful!

Just and true are your ways,

King over the nations!

Who will not fear you, O Lord,

and glorify your name, because you alone are holy?

All nations will come and worship before you

for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

Tomorrow is the last day of Advent and this should be our song as we worship. Come together and praise Him.

October 5, 2019

Are you a Quitter?

Habakkuk 1 -3 Habakkuk, The I Won’t Give Up Prophet!

Habakkuk 1 to 3

How often have you heard: “God doesn’t answer prayer” or “I tried faith but it didn’t work.” Beloved know this; some people won’t believe even if and when the evidence is presented! We remember that from the healed blind man’s testimony to the Pharisees. [John 9] There are people who look at the evidence and choose to believe but there also are people who choose stubbornly to remain in darkness. Habakkuk shows us how he sifted through the pretense of his own unbelief and gleaned something that shook him to the core.

He accused God of not listening! Then he accused God of delaying judgment! He was brutally honest with God. He persevered in his dialog with God. Habakkuk shows us this truth: God loves us enough to be brutally honest about how we feel. Would an idol do that? Would they allow us to vent our feelings and our questions even if we brought a sacrifice? The answer is NO! As Habakkuk’s world was swirling with ungodliness he stood firm EVEN when he did not understand! Habakkuk determined to “remain stationed on the wall and keep watching so he could see what God says.”

If you think that God doesn’t answer prayer, guess who isn’t watching, waiting and trusting God?

Are you a quitter or are you steadfast?

May 28, 2015

Prayerful Mindset

One of the things I find most intriguing is that God loves to hear me pray which then brings me to a question as to why I am “disobedient” to be in unceasing prayer mode throughout my day. Perhaps it is best understood by seeing what Jesus did for the disciples. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray He began with honoring the Father in heaven, followed by seeking God’s favor in the practical needs for others as well as self; followed by seeking God’s help in walking circumspectly—that is being prudent and discreet. [See Matt 6]

In Colossians 4, Paul asks that we utilize this as a principle in our time of prayer and it begins with a mindset to be devoted or steadfast and courageously persistent. We must beware of the tools of the enemy and be on the alert to his devious ways to distract us. And then our prayer life must include thanksgiving. Note that as Paul is writing he does not seek relief from his prison cell but rather that he may be faithful and prepared to proclaim the mystery of Christ which is the pure gospel message. Is this our prayer for the persecuted church today? Is this our prayer for those who need to be steadfast in their walk and talk? When we rise from prayer is there a change in our walk and talk as we interact with “outsiders,” that is unbelievers? Do we purposefully act and respond remembering that our actions and responses affect another’s acceptance or rejection of the gospel message? Do we consciously respond with words of that are gracious?

As we close our prayer time may we implore God as Solomon did: O Father, “be attentive to your servant’s and your people Israel’s requests for help and may you respond to all their prayers to you.”(1Kings 8)

You can find this same post here: https://www.facebook.com/bible.org utilizing the Bible study tool: https://lumina.bible.org/bible

Come and join us as we wade through the NT, Psalms and Proverbs each day. Tomorrow is Psalm 50 with its wise counsel to be discerning about.

February 25, 2015

People of the Cross

This image has gone viral across the internet. The words of ISIS reverberate across our consciousness and the question arise: Are we really the people of the Cross? It is then that I recall the words of Joseph: “Gen 50:20 As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose….” What good can come out of something like this? It is this that OM Harris a blogger friend recently wrote: “We have a mandate to live in anxious anticipation, and in so doing I preach a gospel of repentance” Am I living in anxious anticipation? Do I really believe that God’s good will come from this? That is what a true “people of the Cross” do.

This is the same message Paul left with the Ephesian elders as he met with them for the last time. “testifying …about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus….But I do not consider my life worth anything to myself, so that I may finish my task and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the good news of God’s grace.” [vs 21/24]. Later Paul would write: “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith!” [2Ti 4:7]

But the race is not over! Until then we are the “people of the cross” with the message of truth: Jesus alone is The Way, The Truth, and The Life! We are to be busy about testifying about the gospel message even when the wolves rear up. Remember this promise: Indeed, the Lord who commands armies has a plan,” and it will be fulfilled. [Isa 14] Listen to these words: “Obedience is better than crumbling to the fears of speaking out.” [O.M. Harris] Be faithful to pray that God release his angelic legions, miraculous signs and wonders so that the wolves’ mission of destruction is hindered; that they may have dreams that will convict and turn them from unbelief to the true Messiah. And how do we pray for ourselves? We must pray that we remain steadfast as the “people of the cross” and join Paul in saying: “I do not consider my life worth anything to myself.”

Are we truly the “people of the Cross?” That is the question of the day.

March 5, 2014

“Flattery vs Honesty—which wins?”

There is a saying “It’s funny how everyone considers honesty to be a virtue yet no one wants to hear the truth.” As we read Acts 24 these words should remind us of why, when you share the gospel message and are rejected, it is not you they are rejecting but the very Son of God. But, we are to remain true and steadfast as Paul demonstrated and Dr. Luke shares with us.

In chapter 24 we meet one slick flatterer, Tertullus the high paid lawyer, who arrives with a huge entourage but lacks any genuine witnesses. His flattery and falseness leads to a quick “falling flat on his face” before the Governor Felix. In contrast we see the truth of the prophecy of God regarding Paul to be “my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel” and the words of Jesus ““Have courage, for just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome” is coming to pass. If we were writing this story we might have Felix hear the false and flattering words of Tertullus and like Gallio dismiss the charges against Paul but the words of Isaiah are ringing forth as true: ““Indeed, my plans are not like your plans,” and now the reason…..

God had an eternal plan for this man Felix to hear of the mercy and redemption for his sins but because of his procrastinating, fear and lack of decision making it appears that he never crossed the divide from unbelief to belief. If that is true, he one day will hear these words: “depart from me, I never knew you” because you are “without excuse.” I sent my servant Paul to tell you about My Beloved Son and you would not listen nor accept My truth that Jesus is “The Way, The Truth, The Life” and no man comes to me without that.

Beloved, as you read this chapter do you see the plan of God for someone you love and has yet to choose Jesus? Are you encouraged that just as God gave Felix many opportunities to hear and to respond so too the very fact that your loved one stands still upon this earthly shore means that God is not finished yet with their soul? Do you see the marvelous patience and power of the Word as Paul presented it to Felix over and over and over? That is my friend, God’s love and mercy for the unsaved. Take courage and be ye steadfast knowing that your labor is not in vain.

October 1, 2013

Steadfast Confidence

How do you react in times of difficulty? Are we confident in the God we say we believe? If so, are we living so that others may ask how we are facing life’s circumstances?

As Paul wrote this second letter to the church in Corinth he shared from the heart the burdens he was carrying and the love he had for them. His ministry was not without a cost however and in this letter he openly bears his soul to them that they may learn from him how to handle adversity. As we read we want to keep our eyes open to what he faced: conflicts, fears, sufferings. Then we want to transition to ask: are they similar to mine? Am I persevering as Paul did? What lessons can I learn that I can use later for others?

Question 1: Who is God to you when you face adversity? Is he as Paul notes: the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort? Is he a god who can comfort us in all of our troubles? Do we see our troubles as God’s open door for us to in turn minister to others? These are the questions we need to address as we read 2Cor.

Principle 1: One purpose in suffering is that we may in turn comfort others when they face similar circumstances. vs 4 God is the God of all comfort; vs 6 if we face affliction/suffering/adversity it is that we may be in turn be able to comfort and empathize with others.

Principle 2: We can be confident and trust that God is involved in our circumstances vs 7 And our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you share in our sufferings, so also you will share in our comfort. Vs 9 we would not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead.

Principle 3: Be steadfast, immovable in whatever circumstance you find yourself vs 10 We have set our hope on him – on God alone

Principle 4: Our prayers that are being offered are useful for ourselves and others. 1:11 as you also join in helping us by prayer, so that many people may give thanks to God on our behalf for the gracious gift given to us through the help of many. John Bunyan wrote: “In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”

What adversity are you facing today that you can implement these same 4 principles? Perhaps you may have faced a similar adversity. Thus the question is: How may I pray for you in this time?

Know this: God is not only a God of all comfort but He is a God of love!