Peniel Pentecostal Holiness Church

3239 Rosebud Road Walnut Cove NC 27052
Pastor: Dr. Tim Nelson -  Church Office 336-591-36112
A Place To Encounter God Face To Face. Gen. 32:3

A Word From The Pastor Archives 2021
June 2021
 

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.  14 Let all your things be done with charity. 
1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Paul is saying, "act like men."  A common saying among men today is "man up".  This is a call for men to be courageous godly men.  It is also a call for women to pray that the men in their lives, their husbands, sons, grandsons, fathers and brothers will be courageous godly men.  To be a courageous godly man, one must first focus on being a man in relationship with God.  Listen again to the Apostle Paul, "Act like men."   This is very blunt, however God does call men to be men and in this passage, Paul shows us one aspect of being a man of God.  We need to keep in mind that we are in a spiritual battle every single day, that is why he said, "be watchful".  Any day that we fail to recognize this is another day, we are unprepared for an attack from the enemy.

Every day is a chance to build your family, community and church to prepare for the spiritual battle that will take place that day.  We never know which day could bring catastrophe, heartache or trouble.  With that in mind, we stand firm in the faith, starting every morning strong.  In this we show our love to those around us.  One way you can prepare for spiritual battle is to ask God to bring you wisdom to make wise decisions in tough times.

Adapted From:
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/582-man-up/day/1.htm

It is something most people find difficult to do.  To stand alone, against the pressures of the crowd.  It can feel like trying to resist hurricane-force winds, or block the momentum of an avalanche.  How much easier to do what seems popular.  What we are expected to do.  Not to "rock the boat", but the challenge comes when we feel the majority is wrong.  When we feel compelled to take a different course.  We may be outnumbered.  Our motives might be questioned, but we cannot help but stand on our convictions.  We simply cannot conform or compromise what we believe.

Daniel provides a powerful example of a man willing to stand alone.  It did not matter that the leadership of Babylon insisted on a particular diet.  He knew he was right and that giving in would mean defiling himself, but Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself.  His resolve to no compromise influenced three other Hebrews, and these four stood together as they determined it did not matter what pressure others applied.  They purposed in their hearts to not compromise their faith.  Have you purposed in your heart to stand for truth and righteousness, even if it means you stand alone?  Dare to be a Daniel!

Adapted From:
https://inspiration.org/daily-devotional/dare-to-be-a-daniel/

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  Genesis 6:8

Our world is a terrifying place.  Violence, crime and rebellion seem to be rampant in our culture.  While we might think that the horrors of today are worse than any other time in history, yet the biblical account describing Noah's day reveals that violence and treachery had reached epic proportions.  Brutal crimes were commonplace, fear was everyone's constant companion.

However, in the midst of this horrific period of time, Noah was a righteous man who walked with God.  God confided in Noah His intentions to judge his generation and literally wipe out everyone with the exception of Noah and his family from the earth.  To imagine the devastation and destruction to come must have left Noah breathless, both because of the magnitude of the death sentence and the acquittal he and his family had been issued, but thankfully Noah's faith in Yahweh gave him courage in the midst of fear and the challenges he faced.

If God enabled Noah in the antediluvian period to courageously remain faithful, He surely can do it for you today.  May your faith in God give you the courage to be all God has called you to be and to do all He has called you to do.

Adapted From:
https://www.todayintheword.org/

Hebrews 11 gives many examples of great faith and a common theme quickly emerges, the choice to let go of rational understanding to courageously and boldly believe in the unseen or the unknown.

Noah courageously chose to heed God's warning and built an ark even though he saw no rain at the time.  Joshua and the army of Israel courageously marched around the walls of Jericho for six days with no evidence of the walls coming down.  Daniel courageously remained committed to God's law when others compromised, and then there is Abraham, a man who courageously chose to follow God to a foreign land with nothing but a promise to hold onto.  None of the courageous moves in Hebrews 11 and other biblical stories were easy but through faith they were possible.  Courageous faith in the promises and purposes of God made the impossible possible.

Courageous faith chooses to trust God in spite of our fear and over all the possible outcomes.  The men and women in Hebrews 11 never imagined the impact their choices would have so many years later.  Noah, Joshua, Daniel, Abraham and others are well known for their faith and God's presence in their lives.  It's easy to admire them, but it is also easy to assume their experience of God only happened "back then."

God is just as active today as He was thousands of years ago.  Perhaps the reason we don't experience more of god's presence is that we aren't expecting it.  What would happen if instead of admiring our ancestors' courageously bold moves, we start making some of our own in Jesus' Name?

Adapted From:
https://newspring.cc/devotionals/making-bold-moves-a-7-day-devotional/let-the-past-give-you-courage