Do You Have the Language of Faith?

Thursday, May 30, 2013 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

There is a language and lifestyle for believers who live by faith in God. There is a "good fight of faith," not for salvation (Jesus saved us), but to live a high quality life, win souls, and get the things done that God wants done.

People of faith and power speak and act differently because they have high expectations of God, of themselves and for their work than.  Jesus is the ultimate Man of faith and power. Follow His example.

John 14:12, Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me, will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. 

1 Tim. 6:11, But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13In the sight of God, who gives life to everything...

Listen to audio from Bible study, Wednesday, May 29 on the topic, "The Language of Faith"

God has a Confirmed Word for You

Saturday, May 25, 2013 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

I remember the saying, "When it is all said and done, there was a lot more said than done."

In a world and culture of words, statements, declarations, and prophecies, we need clarity more than ever. It is interesting that a lot of what we hear DOES NOT bring clarity, but confusion. This is because a lot of what is said does not have a basis in the Word and purpose of God. Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

How can this be? The best example I can recall was a group of men called the "Sons of Sceva," who were the sons of a Jewish priest.

Acts 19:13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.”

They were part of some kind of movement of "exorcists" who "took it upon themselves" to engage with evil spirits. They were using the Lord's name, but they did not have a "prophetic word confirmed." In other words, they lacked authority and revelation on God's will and purpose. They had neither a relationship with Jesus nor were authorized by men of God like the Apostle Paul. The Sons of Sceva and the others were involved with this little group of "exorcists" who engaged in "cunningly devised fables," to use Apostle Peter's words. They did not have a "confirmed word" and were unable to stand.

And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. (Acts 19:15-16)

God's "confirmed word" for you follows this pattern:
1. It is connected to the Lord Jesus Christ
2. It is rooted in the Scriptures
3. It is authorized by spiritual authority
4. It brings clarity within the purposes of God's kingdom
5. It edifies (builds up) God's church, not self
6. It is "a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."

We don't have to take anything unto ourselves or follow the "fables" of people not connected to Jesus. Being connected to Christ, you and I can be in position to also receive a confirming Word from God, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The Blindness of Religion

Thursday, May 16, 2013 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Religion is so focused on its rules and rituals that it neither recognizes people's needs nor God's working in their lives. 

John 5:8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

"Gehazi, Don't Do It!"

Wednesday, May 08, 2013 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Interesting story from my devotional reading this morning about a man named Gehazi:

After Naaman was healed of leprosy, he tried to pay Elisha, but he wouldn't take Naaman's money (integrity). But Elisha's servant, Gehazi, chased after Naaman to get the money that the prophet refused. He thought, "Immo get that money!"

Gehazi caught up with Naaman's chariot and lied saying that Elisha sent him to get the money. He got the money from Naaman. God showed Elisha his servant's deception and greed.

Gehazi forgot he was supposed to be a servant. He injected himself into a ministry relationship and activity just to get money off well-to-do Naaman. He tried to convert Elisha's ministry connection into profit for himself. He got the money, but also got leprosy. He became deformed physically (and spiritually).

Gehazi's errors: No integrity, greed, pride, deception, hidden agenda, resource conversion.

2 Kings 5:20, But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.” 21 So Gehazi pursued Naaman...25 Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you go, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.” 26 Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.”

Do You Want a "Double Portion?"

Tuesday, May 07, 2013 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

2 Kings 2:1, Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” 10 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” 
[Read chapters 1 & 2 for full context]

Elisha asked Elijah for a "hard thing." He asked for a "double portion" of Elijah's spirit. Elisha did not ask for "double anointing" or "double miracle working power." That's not a hard thing. Having a gift from God is easy. Elisha asked Elijah for CHARACTER, which is the true spirit of a man of God. That's a hard thing.

Too many believers and preachers ask for anointing, opportunity, authority, and more. Too many do not seek to cultivate character, won't faithfully follow leadership, disregard instructions, reject counsel and overstep their grace and measure. They don't "see."

Ask for hard things, like integrity and character, and stay in position to receive it.

Beware of "But" or Exceptions to God's Standard

Wednesday, May 01, 2013 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

I Kings 11:1, But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites 2 from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods....4 For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians 

Solomon had three things that most people desire: He had fame, fortune, and favor. He also was given the gift of wisdom. What Solomon lacked was strong character. His father David also achieved fame, fortune, and faith. In addition, he was immensely talented and gifted. But David also had developed a core of character.

No one can successfully argue against the fact that God wants to bless his people, spiritually and materially. 1 Kings chapter 10 outlines the wealth of Solomon AND his strong attachment to the status that his wealth gained for him. 

Over time, Solomon's devotion to his status contributed to his distraction, and ultimately to his downfall. The man once regarded as possessing the greatest wisdom of all, did not apply wisdom to his own life. He fell victim to "but."

As the word is used in our text, "but" means an "exception to the fact." There is no doubt that Solomon's wealth was God-given. He made the mistake of focusing on his wealth and status to the exception of the fact that God must be worshiped at all times. 

For Solomon, the exception that he made turned his heart from God and led him towards sexual perversion (Ashtoreth). This is a pattern we see to this day among too many highly successful people, including too many believers and preachers. 

The moral to this story is to not let fame, fortune and favor cause us to create exceptions to high character. Avoid all devotions to passions and things that lead to distraction and downfall. 

Only be devoted to God!