Thy Rod and Thy Staff

I wanted to share a Word with you in hopes to bring you some COMFORT during this time of separation. First, I want you to know that You have been lifted up in prayer every day and believe that God has placed divine protection over your family during this time. I want to encourage each one of you to take advantage of this opportunity to seek God without anything else bidding for your time and attention. I believe this is a time of divine separation and the Lord has a special touch for each one of your lives.

I studied a short devotional on Feeling Anxious a couple days ago and it referenced Psalm 23. I’ve read this passage so much and have heard it referenced so much that I have it memorized as I’m sure you do as well. One thing that really stood out to me this time was the reference to the Shepherd’s rod and staff. “Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”. I was curious to know why this brought the psalmist comfort. I mean just the very presence of the Lord sure would suffice, but he specifically mentions His rod and staff. So, I began to wonder what was the purpose of a shepherd’s rod and staff.

To my surprise this is quite possibly talking about two separate items. The rod was used as a weapon to scare off thieves and predators, so it represented a tool of protection and provided safety for the flock. It also would provide stability, like a walking stick, when the way to better pastures was rocky or unstable ground. The staff was a tool used for gentle correction or re-directing, and the hook at the top of the staff was designed to grab the sheep by the head or neck when they would stray or attempt to wander off from the herd. Some staffs actually had a shovel like design at the bottom so the shepherd could scoop up mud or dirt and toss it at the sheep when they started to wonder off from the herd or go in the wrong direction.

Doesn’t it make sense now? Why the rod and staff brought comfort? We are often referred to as sheep in his pasture. As our Great Shepherd he is well equipped to protect, provide, guide, re-direct, correct and lead us when the enemy, sin or cares of this life causes us to stumble, stray, wander off or even end up “separated” from the herd. The way seems a bit rough right now. We are being led into uncharted territory, but staying close to our Great Shepherd will provide us COMFORT and lead us to green pastures and still waters in the days ahead and even today as you seek His face.

So much more could be said regarding His rod and staff. I feel a COMFORT in my spirit knowing that if I stay close to the Shepherd, He is going to see me through this strange time and place we are in at this moment. God Bless each one of you and I’m looking forward to assembling together again one day soon to WORSHIP our Great Shepherd.

by: Sis. Faith Barton

Drink the Water

The church has adapted through history to many seasons. It has adapted to persecution, it has adapted when it became a Roman medium to rule the masses, and it adapted through a medieval period where there was silence. The word adapted is not in the negative since; however, it is in the positive sense that no matter what state the world is in the light of the Gospel never ceases to overcome the various seasons composing the ebb and flow of life. The Word of God never returns void. When God spoke into existence a curse upon Adam, Eve, and the snake, that word has spanned the gaps of all time as it moves in prophetic motion towards an end. The fulfillment of that end was in the cosmic redemption brought by the sacrificial offering of Jesus at Calvary. Through his atonement we now have access to living water only made possible by the blood shed upon the cross. Now that river of living water flows. It cuts through mountains, it weaves through forests, and it quenches the thirst of the traveler searching for a better country. No matter the circumstances the world has found itself, that living water still flows. When a hurdle is confronted the river does not stop; rather, it flows around or over the obstacle. The living water is unstoppable. This water was meant to be tasted, it was meant to be approached, it was meant to be claimed as part of the promised land of redemption. It is the now and not yet of God’s grace to humanity where salvation is come bringing a well spring to the souls of men while looking forward to the day, we meet the source: Jesus. This river is meant to flow through us today and it is meant to flow throughout the world through us. Over the thousands of years embedded in the history of Christianity, the living water in the hearts of men have had to flow in catacombs, it has flowed in the midst of physical death, it has flowed through communities of lepers, it has flowed into the graves of dead men, and it has flowed through the streets filled with the thirsty and suffering.

In the Gospels we see a miracle where a great banquet is being held that Jesus is attending. They have drank all the wine and there is no more left. They petition Jesus to help and he commands for the jars to be filled with water and it turns into the best wine of the banquet. This banquet is rich in symbolism. The Jewish tradition held wine as a symbol of joy and celebration. Running out of wine seems to parallel the condition of Judaism at the time in that they were joyless, and their celebrations were empty. However, in this scene we see how Jesus is the prophetic fulfillment of the messianic age as he would bring a time where wine would flow endlessly.

And it shall come to pass in that day, That the mountains shall drop down new wine, And the hills shall flow with milk, And the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, And the fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, And shall water the valley of Shittim. Joel 3:18

Interestingly, an Old Testament parallel exists in this story when Jesus’ mother tells them “Do whatever he tells you.” The parallel is found in the story of Joseph when Pharaoh tells the people to do what Joseph commands. Likewise, just as Joseph brought help in the middle of famine, so Jesus has come to do the same, except he has come to bring relief in the midst of spiritual famine. Jesus asks the people in Cana why they want to involve him in the celebrations that day because it was not yet his time, but he used the occasion to demonstrate that not only has he come to bring new wine to the world, but he is also the living water which all blessings spring out of. Fast forward to the book of Acts where they were all gathered in an upper room at a different kind of banquet. This is the moment in history where out of the living water new wine was poured into new vessels. This is the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, the restoration of joy and celebration to the world that had endured spiritual famine from being cut off from the holiness of God. Now it has become a mighty river as prophesied in Joel 3 and it is flowing throughout the world.

In the face of the Coronavirus and the anxiety it may bring there is a God who has not caused the flowing of the river of living water to dry up. Rather, it is available for all if they will accept him as the Messiah and believe in him to cause them to be born again in water and spirit. He must be believed in as the source of joy and celebration who is the God of rescue and who offers water that once you drink you shall never thirst again.

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:14

I encourage you today to drink of the water Jesus has prepared for your life. This begins with simply repenting and asking God to forgive you of your past attempts to provide for yourself and all the times you have sinned against Him. Begin to ask God to bring into your life celebration and joy. Ask him to rescue from the famine of this world and to help you know him. Once this water begins to spring up in your life no mountain will be too big, no struggle will be intense enough to keep you from rising again. The presence of His power will cause you to know him as Jesus the Messiah who will save his people from their sins. Take a step of faith and ask God to take part in your life and make up your mind today to do all that he says. If you will, then you will know God as more than a banquet guest, but as the Messiah who will cause blessing to pour out of your life like a mighty river. The living water God wants to pour in your life will flow through every circumstance and will lead to everlasting life.

by: Bro. Blake Byers

A Bible Study Resource

Happy Thursday!

As I was listening to Bro. Kyle minister the Word last night, his reference to “space of grace” really jumped out to me. I began to think about that space of time we have been granted.

Contemplating how I could better use my time for study of God’s Word, I was reminded of a Bible study sheet from Cindy Miller that has proven to be very helpful. It is just a simple way to take a particular passage of Scripture, and depending on how much time one has, presenting three different levels you can study the passage. Below are two versions of this file: a standard Microsoft Word doc as well as an Adobe PDF:

One could use a desired level to study a different passage each day, do all three levels at one sitting, or you could break the levels into three days. I hope this will be helpful in redeeming the time during this season and beyond.

by: Sis. Cheryl Jean

Be Still and Know

Over the past few days as I’ve gone about life at a different pace, the presence of the Lord has been very near to me. I have been busy at home helping my boys with their schoolwork, but in stolen moments I can feel the Lord so near.

One day in the beginning of this – on our way to school – I told the boys, “Sometimes God makes us lie down.” Maybe it was because I had read earlier about our missionary to Brazil – Bennie DeMerchant – his airplane wreck, and how he ended up with two broken legs. He stated how God makes us lie down sometimes. Maybe it was that, or maybe it was God putting into my heart preparation for what is now. Either way, when He makes us lie down, there is a battle between us and the Spirit. I’ve found so many other things to fill my time. My mind felt crazy trying to fill the void of work and routine, and yet all the time, I could feel the Lord trying to pull me to Him. When I would stop throughout the day, and pause, listen, feel… He was there. He is there. He is here.

Our lives are consumed by “WORLD” standards of reaching, achieving, becoming. I compare myself daily with a measuring stick I’ve allowed to be created by external influence. Not all bad influences, just when I’ve had a pause in my life, I can tell God is trying to say something. Say something to me, to my heart, my soul. It can’t be just to me because He has caused the world to lie down.

I know personally my days are full. Full of what I think is right and good to do. Full of doing good things. Full of doing what is right, but I really believe this time of lying down, the fighting it, the hustle to fill the void of what once was there – there is so much more to this “life”. How much time do I really devote to what HE wants? How much time do I really spend talking, not just requesting, to Him? How much time do I spend reading and studying His Word and not just rushing through and hoping something sticks to get me through the day? When was the last time I truly just felt Him near because distractions of even good things were out of the way?

We are only here for a season of time. A vapor…what type of life am I really living for Him? D.L. Moody’s quote, “The world has yet to see what God can do with one man WHOLLY committed to Him.” Wholly committed. What does that really mean? To me, it causes me to evaluate everything I’m doing. EVERYTHING! Am I wholly committed? Am I doing _________ because God has placed it in my life to do? Am I being a faithful steward of the gift He has given to me, or have I buried it? In doing so, am I hindering His work because doing what He wants will take MY time. It will push me out of my comfort zone. Do I feel Him in what I’m doing?

My life ought to be lived in the presence of God. He shouldn’t have to make me know He is there. How wonderful to know He will, and He does make me aware! In this world that fights for our souls and demands answers, there is a God who created us, that is fighting as well for our eternal soul. He longs for our attention. He longs for our commitment…WHOLLY! Meaning: ENTIRELY! TOTALLY! ALTOGETHER! What would my world look like if that were the case? What would be on my plate if I was WHOLLY committed to Him? Maybe not as much? Maybe something different?

He is quietly, peacefully calling out, “Be still…and know…lie down.” My prayer now is to let my heart hear what You are saying to me, to Your people. Help me clear this time, to feel Your Spirit, to feel You drawing me closer to You. Help me not to miss what You are trying to do in my heart personally, creating something more. Let me, my heart, my soul BE STILL. Let me, my heart, my soul, LIE DOWN. To be with You is all I want. To know You, Your voice, Your heart. In this time of pulling, help me fight against my flesh, what I want, my way, and simply … lie down … be still … and know.

by: Sis. Amanda Kelley