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- P L U N D E R E R
- Jan 1
- 1 min read
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We're on the cusp of a new year and many have resolutions and plans ready to execute. This approach is normal because people see a new year as an opportunity for a fresh start. A new year allows us to think about who we are and who God has called us to be. We can consider these questions and, where we fall short, call on the Lord to help us be better.
As we enter 2025, remember that the Lord's eyes search the earth for those who are committed to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9). Therefore, look at your life. How are you truly committed to God? Put what you are doing (and thinking) against God's word. Do they line up? If not, it is time to make serious changes.
To do this, consider what you've learned this year while studying your Bible or during fellowship with other believers. What has the Holy Spirit revealed to you? What did you write in your notes or the margin of Your Bible? These lessons constitute the elements of the toolkit God has empowered you with to enter 2025 as one who has overcome the evil one - satan.
God wants His children to move from glory to glory, not remain in one place (2 Corinthians 3:18). He brought the Israelites out of Egypt to take them to the land He'd promised their ancestors. Fear and inexperience caused the people to miss their chance so the Lord gave them time to understand Him better and learn what He could do for them.
In many ways, 2024 and the years prior have been a wilderness season during which the Father familiarized us with His character and plans for us. 2025 provides the chance to step into the Promised Land - the inheritance that awaits. However, we have to take stock of the toolkit He has provided. That toolkit will be necessary once we cross over our River Jordan to take hold of what is ours in Canaan.
If we fail to do this, we risk allowing fear, disbelief, and the devil's lies to confound us and keep us stationary when in fact, it is our time to move into the new both spiritually and physically. May sin not keep us from the success God has for us, IJMN, Amen.
Be honest, don't you want to step into the new that God has for you? The new year is the perfect time to look at your toolkit and seek God's righteous hand to steer you forward. As you do this, be mindful to continue living a righteous life that pleases the Father, cooperating with His Spirit to receive strength when you are weak and wisdom when you have none.
As you read this message, open your notebooks. Look at the things you wrote down when you studied God's word. Take some time to think about the sermons and messages from God's servants that stirred you up. Make sure you know what is in your spiritual toolkit for the journey into your promised land. Look at old posts from this fellowship, as well. The Lord has been calling us all to rid ourselves of what will not serve us where we are going by His grace.
In Jesus' name, God will bless us as we prepare to walk humbly with Him in 2025 and the rest of our lives. Amen. Happy New Year!
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- P L U N D E R E R
- Dec 27, 2024
- 3 min read
The Bible shares the story of Queen Vashti who was married to King Xerxes, the ruler of the Kingdom of Persia and Media. A proud man, he celebrated his power for 180 days. He invited officials from 127 provinces and made sure they feasted with drinks, food, and entertainment while he showed off his accomplishments.
Toward the end of the festivities, he was "merry with wine" when he summoned Vashti to show her off to his guests (Esther 1:10). After all, his beautiful wife was but one more conquest to be flaunted in the face of all who had gathered. Esther 1:12 - Queen Vashti, however, refused to come at the king’s command brought by his eunuchs. And the king became furious, and his anger burned within him. His advisers counseled him to replace Vashti with someone else and that eventual replacement was Esther, whose story is well known to Christians and Jews alike.
Now back to Vashti. She was married to a proud man, so there should have been no surprise that she would mimic the very pride he displayed, right? She was only doing what he did. Shouldn't that have counted for something? After all, Xerxes spent months celebrating himself. Plus, this couldn't have been the first time she ignored his request. What made this time so different that he reacted as he did? Shouldn't he have been used to her behavior?
The answer to those questions could be yes. Yet, none of that mattered. What mattered was that Vashti didn't realize a day would come when her pride would prove her downfall. She ignored the possibility that she would eventually cross the line with the king and pay the price. Had she known, she might have done things differently.
We Christians have the opportunity to be wise and learn from Vashti's mistakes. We must not replicate the erroneous attitude she had. When dealing with the Lord, we must remember to revere and venerate Him. Just because we got away with repeated disobedience does not mean the Vashti line - a point of no return - isn't a possibility. Thus, we cannot afford to ignore the call to repent and return to a life of righteousness in all areas.
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We need to allow God's grace to transform us from the inside out as it is meant to. God is in the business of transforming people. For instance, Saul met Jesus as an arrogant and spiteful man who killed Christians. Today, we know him as Paul "The Humble" who went on to serve God's kingdom with fierce zeal.
Besides, there's no way of knowing where that Vashti line is. Though invisible, it exists. Wisdom would therefore dictate that it is best not to cross it and we can achieve this by not abusing God's grace and mercy.
God is kind and patient. He is intent on saving as many souls as possible so they don't spend eternity in hell with satan. Still, He gives each person a choice - through the way they live, they determine where they will spend eternity. Many think that there will be countless opportunities to get right with God and that is true. But they fail to realize that they do not get to choose when that point of no return will be. Only God does. And when they ignore Him, the risk of crossing the Vashti line increases. When that happens, the chance for eternity in heaven could be too late.
As we inch ever closer to 2025, may the good Lord help us. May our hearts yield to His beckoning and submit to His will, IJMN Amen.
Romans 6:1-2 - What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
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