Teach Us To Number Our Days!

"So teach us to number  our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."  Psalm 90:12

Good morning! Ever since I lost my mom at the age of 13 I have decided to live by the motto "live life to the fullest." As I have gotten older and become closer to Christ my view of this motto has changed.  As a teenager I viewed this as try everything you can get your hands on and take advantage every chance I had. Now living life to the fullest means living life for Christ in every way possible.

I find it funny when I talk to kids about summer coming and they can count the exact number of days until school is out. I also remember when I was in school at South Eastern University I was counting down the exact amount of days until I was back home.  When we number our days we set a list of things we have to do during those days, its a countdown for us.  When a student is counting down the number of days till summer they have that many days filled with exams, studying, its during that time that students make plans with their friends for the summer. Why is it like this? Because they know their time is short, as far as time left in the school year. Most know what they have to make on their exam to pass their class, so they study to make that grade, but once the exam is taken it is too late to make up for study time.  

That is the way God intends for us to live, to number our days.  We don't know when our time will end so to number every day every opportunity as it is our last chance to spread the gospel.  Could you imagine if every Christian lived every day is if it were their last, to spread the gospel and tell all their friends and family about Jesus. Think about all the excuses we give as to why we don't witness to friends family or even strangers. Th majority of them go like this, "I don't know what to say", or, "I just don't think it is the right time".  Well, when is it the right time? We are told to number our days, so lets live like we number our days.  Lets live like we might not have tomorrow.  

It doesn't matter how old you are, you never know when your time is up, you never know when God is going to call you home. I am sure that my mom didn't expect to be called home at the age of 45, but she was.  I look back at her life now and I can remember that towards the end she spent more time talking about Jesus and sharing Jesus than anytime before.  Why? Because she knew her days were numbered.  As you go on through your day, through your week, how will you spend your time? Will you constantly make plans for tomorrow and ignore the things of God that are before you today, or will you take time out of your busy day and share the Gospel with the lost?  It is time for us to treat every day as if it were our last, and live life to its fullest, to number our days, to live for Christ.

Let us pray. Father help me number my days. Lord help me reach the lost for You.  Help me show people the way of Christ with every opportunity I get. May my day my week honor you Lord.  In Jesus' name, Amen.

David Wiggins
Youth Pastor
www.nbcornerstone.com

Our Daily Walk With God

^{Our Daily Walk With God}

^14-16 I can anticipate the response that is coming: “I know that all God’s commands are spiritual, but I’m not. Isn’t this also your experience?” Yes. I’m full of myself—after all, I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.

^17-20 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t doit. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

^21-23 It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

²⁴ I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question? -Romans 7:14-24 The Message Bible

Good morning! I understand that I started off the morning with a long scripture and from a translation of the Bible that I don't generally use, but I can't help but think this scripture speaks to me every time I read it. Just yesterday I was talking to a young man about his faith and asked him how he was doing. His response reminded me of this verse. Life had been beating him up, sin was constantly on his mind, and he was fighting his flesh with everything he had.  

The key to what I said is that he was fighting his flesh himself. I asked him if he had been in his Bible and if he had been reading and praying, his response was like many who struggle in their walk with God, "I try to I just haven't found the time". Lets face the facts real quick, we have all felt like this passage where we love God and love his Law and want to obey it but just cant seem to do it. I am reminded of an old DC Talk song where the chorus goes "what if I stumble what if I fall". Why do we get to this point it seems so often as Christians,  some say its the devil attacking you, maybe. What I believe is that we struggle so often to keep God's law because we become like this scripture we try to will it.  

If you notice this scripture always uses 'I' in it. I wonder how many of us only hear the word of God when we are at church on Sunday, or only praise God during worship on Sunday, how many of us only pray before we go to sleep?  And therein lies the problem, too often we get too busy and seem to cut God out of our every day life. We try to battle the spiritual realm by ourselves. We try to defeat our flesh and keep God's law without God. In verse 25 of this same passage it reads "The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different." 

Today as you go about your day don't forget to include God because it's through Him that the battle is won. Don't forget to pray, and not just before you eat and sleep. If you walk with Christ, you will no longer be fighting alone.

Let us Pray. Dear Father, help me go through this day walking with You. Help me realize that I cant do this on my own, but that I need You in order to win the battle.  In Jesus name Amen.

David Wiggins
Youth Pastor
www.nbcornerstone.com

A Commandment With A Promise

A Commandment With A Promise

Children, obey your parents,  for this is right. "You must honor your  father and mother"--this is the first commandment, with a promise to make it good-- "so that you may prosper and live a long life on earth."  Ephesians 6:1-3

Good morning, this may seem like an odd scripture to wake up to in the morning, but it is a scripture that has laid heavy on my heart today. As we know, to honor our parents is commanded, it is the 5th commandment. One of the things that has always puzzled me about this scripture is why is this the first commandment with a promise? Then it hit me this morning during a conversation with my dad. 

A little over a year ago  I moved out and my dad helped me get on my feet. He helped me by giving me furniture so I would have some.  Over this time period, I have been in the process of slowly replacing the old furniture he gave me, he laughed as we talked and told me he thinks that I have now sold old his old furniture, and as we talked he said "you are starting to see what it takes to live on your own, and how much it really costs." The question you are asking is how does this conversation make sense with this scripture? I will try to explain the best I can. For so long we take everything for granted that our parents do for us, we assume there should be food in the fridge, working electricity, clothes on our backs, etc....  I finally see all my dad had sacrificed to raise 4 kids.  To help pay for college, to always make sure that our bellies are full and there is a roof over our head.  Things growing up that I just always expected to be there.

Colossians 3:20 "Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing to The Lord." By honoring our parents we honor God. I can't help but think about how our parents must feel when they spend so much time and energy to provide for us growing up and not once do we thank them, and many of us forget birthdays, or just forget to call them every now and then. It makes me sad when I think of this. It makes me wonder, is this what the Lord feels like when He has sacrificed so much for us as sinners and we never take time out of our busy day to talk to Him, to read His word? 

If you are a teenager or a kid still living under your parents roof, honor them. Show them love and thank them for everything they have done for you because I don't believe we ever will truly understand what they have sacrificed for us. If you are an adult, still remember your parents still honor them by calling them, and spending time with them. I cant help but believe the reason this command is so important to God, is because if we can't appreciate the love and sacrifice shown to us by our parents, how can we understand the love God gave for us on the Cross.

Let us Pray. Dear Father, Lord you are the greatest parent there is, God help us show our earthly parents the honor in which they deserve.  Grant us the time to call them, grant us the wisdom to gain a relationship with them, and let us do it with You in mind father that we may honor You by honoring them. 

David Wiggins
Youth Pastor
www.nbcornerstone.com

Life Lessons From Moses

Life Lessons From Moses

The story of Moses takes place in the book of Exodus. As well all know, Moses was a Jew who was raised in Pharaoh's court where he killed an Egyptian and then ran and hid into the desert, where he married and settled. In chapter 3 Moses has his first real encounter with God during his famous encounter at the burning bush. This is where most of us miss it. If we fast forward to the book of Deuteronomy 33:16, in Moses' final address to Israel, he referred to God as the God who dwelt in the burning bush. Its amazing when you think about it with all the miracles God did for Moses, he chose the burning bush. The question is why? Why didn't he refer to God as the God who parted the Red Sea or the God who caused manna to fall from the sky.  There were many  miracles where Moses encountered God but yet he referred to God as the one who dwelt in the burning bush.

Lets jump forward real quick to the New Testament. Galatians 1, Paul is writing and tells us that you can't teach salvation that it has to be a revelation from God, and then Paul tells us about His revelation of God when God blinded him and revealed himself to him. What we have to remember is that Paul, before becoming a Christian, studied the scriptures under Gamaliel who was one of the top priests. Paul knew God's word but yet he didn't come to truly know God until God revealed Himself.  Paul's burning bush experience was when God blinded Him and made himself known. Before that, Paul just had head knowledge of God, but he didn't truly know God. Do you see how Paul couldn't be taught salvation? That it had to be a revelation from God?  Do you see how Moses couldn't be taught who God was? God had to reveal Himself to Moses.

The question I have come to ask myself along with others is, what is your burning bush? When was it that God revealed Himself to you? One of the things that I seem to not understand is when I meet "Christians" who have never had an encounter with God. I wonder, if you have never had an encounter with God, how do you know who He is? So many times we rely on our parents experiences with God, or stories we hear of how God worked in other people's lives, but yet so many Christians have never really experienced God or gotten to know Him.  

I have a friend who made a very strong point about us as humans.  He said that the most important parts of his life he remembers the exact details, the parts of his life that define him are memories he never forgets.  When God revealed Himself  to Moses it was a defining moment in Moses' life. It was a memory that he would never forget. That should be true to all of us, that moment of coming to Jesus; where God revealed Himself to us is a moment none of us will forget.  So as we close, ask yourself this, do I have a burning bush experience? If not, why not?

Let us pray, Father I pray that you open our eyes, and hearts to the moments you grant us, keep them fresh in our memories. Always remind us of our burning bush moment, remind us of the moment that you broke us and we became humble before you asking for forgiveness of all we had done. For those of us who have not had an experience with you God, that you will stir a desire in us to the point that all we want is that moment where you reveal yourself to us. That moment where, God, You no longer become just stories we read and hear, but You become real. In Jesus' name. Amen.

David Wiggins
Youth Pastor
www.nbcornerstone.com

Life Lessons From The Prophet Nehemiah

Life Lessons From the Prophet Nehemiah

Proverbs 21:1 "The kings heart is in the hand of The Lord like channels of water; He turns it wherever he wants." New English translation

Good morning, as we take a look at this proverb we are going to be using the book of Nehemiah to help understand how this proverb translates to our daily lives. Before we go any further lets go over a little bit about who Nehemiah is and what God called him to do.  At this point in the Bible, God's people are  now out of captivity. They were allowed to return back to Jerusalem; Jerusalem is in shambles. Nehemiah 1:3 "And they said to me, the remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire."

Nehemiah, as we learn, felt led to go rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Now, understand, Nehemiah is a cupbearer for king Artaxerxes, who is not a Jewish king and not a king who loves God. Nehemiah did not go immediately to the King and demand that he should be allowed to go rebuild the wall, no instead he prays first; Nehemiah 1:11 shows us that. Nehemiah's prayer did not get answered right away- four months later is when God opened the door for Nehemiah to talk to the king about what was on his heart.  We see this in chapter 2 of Nehemiah. Now God had to move the kings heart, God had to open the door for Nehemiah, and all of this came in response to prayer.

How can we relate this to our own lives? We all have bosses or superiors or someone who has been placed above us. In many cases those bosses are not Christian.  There are many  times when we are so fed up with the situations we are in because we disagree with the people above us. We so quickly want to throw in the towel and just quit and do things our own way. We get mad and say things like, "Well this is obviously not where God wants me". Could you imagine what would have happened if Nehemiah just said, "Well, this is taking too long and I feel called to build the walls of Jerusalem"? The walls would have never been built by him. Part of the story I left out of Nehemiah is that it was the kings lumber he used to build the walls, it was the kings guards who gave him safe passage. God had a plan to use Nehemiah where he was at, and he used his boss to get him there. 

If we are patient and wait upon God and pray before taking action, God will open the doors for us. He will move even in the most ungodly people, to help you accomplish what He wishes. Look back at the proverb the king/or leaders heart is in the hands of The Lord and he can move it. God can move anyone's heart to do His will.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father there are many times I get so frustrated at my work because of bosses and superiors whom you put in charge of me. Lord I don't understand their ways nor do I understand why I am placed where you have me. But I trust you God to move in my boss' heart to have me accomplish what you wish for me to accomplish. Move in my heart so that I may be patient and wait for your guidance.  Give me strength to be the best employee you called me to be hep me honor you in every situation that I am put into. In Jesus' name. Amen.


David Wiggins
Youth Pastor
www.nbcornerstone.com

Spiritual Warfare: Part 5

Spiritual Warfare: Part 5

At the end of Devotion two I wrote: Stay tuned for tomorrow’s devotion when we revisit Luke 10:17-19.  Yes, I did skip it until now.  So what does the Holy Spirit say though Luke.

¹⁷ The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” ¹⁸ And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. ¹⁹ Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

Jesus Christ sent his disciples out to witness with authority over all the power of the enemy.  Remember that He is talking about His enemy, Satan.   When the disciples of Jesus would return they would say with amazement, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”   These demons are evil spirits of both the natural and supernatural kinds.

As you remember from Devotion three, some of the best ways to warfare against evil supernatural created beings is found in Ephesians 6.

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

So what are the weapons available to us to fight the evil spirits of both the natural and supernatural kinds?

The best way to overcome the evil temptations of Satan is to think about Jesus Christ and meditate on the things he has said in the Holy Bible. So weapon number one is read the Bible.

The best way to overcome the evil inspirations and the evil actions of Satan is to communicate with God.  Pray in the Name of Jesus.  Ask our Gracious Heavenly Father for forgiveness and protection and mercy. So weapon number two is Prayer in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Now the hardest human or demon inspired evil for us to address is that of addressing every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.  The weapon of choice is witnessing. God commands us in Matthew 28: 19-20 to witness. You may witness in word and deed and most of all in how you live for Christ. Remember daemons flee at the very mention of the name of Jesus.

Each Royal Ranger knows that to be Spiritual he has to Pray, Read the Bible and Witness.

Dear God,

            Thank you for every blessing that You have given me. 

Thank you for protecting me from the my fallen nature and from all of the Daemons in this world.

            Help me to Pray, Read the Bible and Witness.

For it is in the Holy Name of Jesus I pray.

Amen.

Cdr. Myron Burrows

www.nbcornerstone.com

Spiritual Warfare: Part 4

Spiritual Warfare: Part 4

During the discussion in the last three devotions I was using the spelling of evil spirits, evil muses, evil inspirations and evil supernatural created beings as Daemons.  However, the spell checker changed the spelling to demons.  I hope you will use the Outlook Thesaurus on your computer or even the Roget’s Thesaurus on your desk to find the synonym differences between the words demons and Daemons.  Remember that Satan, the devil, is a deceiver.  Demons are Daemons but not all Daemons are Demons.

In our last devotion we discovered that 2 Corinthians 10: 3-6 seemed to deal more with the human side of evil, while, Ephesians 6: 10-13 seemed to deal with the evil supernatural created beings.  So for today’s devotion let us just deal with the human inspired evil.

God tells us in 2 Corinthians 10: 5 that, while fighting evil, we will be “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”.  Is that not what we have previously talked about?  Muses are thoughts;  imaginations are inspirations and the human spirit surely can “exalteth itself against the knowledge of God”.

Oh yes, this verse could pertain to evil supernatural created beings, but, let us talk about evil supernatural created beings tomorrow.  Right now I want to discuss the weapons available to us to fight the human inspired evil.

The best way to overcome evil thoughts is to think about Jesus Christ and the things he has said in the Holy Bible.  So weapon number one is read the Bible.

The best way to overcome evil inspirations and evil actions is to communicate with God.  Pray in the Name of Jesus.  Ask our Gracious Heavenly Father for forgiveness and mercy.    So weapon number two is Prayer.

Now the hardest human inspired evil for us to address is that of addressing every high thing (or human spirit) that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God.  The weapon of choice is witnessing.   God commands us in Matthew 28: 19-20 to witness.  You may witness in word and deed and most of all in how you live for Christ.

Each Royal Ranger knows that to be Spiritual he has to Pray, Read the Bible and Witness.

Dear God,

        Help me to Pray, Read the Bible and Witness.

In the Name of Jesus I ask this.

Amen.

Cdr. Myron Burrows

www.nbcornerstone.com

Spiritual Warfare: Part 3

Spiritual Warfare: Part 3

Now this devotion is entitled Spiritual Warfare, so how do we deal with evil spirits, evil muses, evil inspirations and evil supernatural created beings?

When we last talked I mentioned human spirits. Remember, I said that each of you are spirits living in a mortal body and your body has a mind that should be controlled by you, the human spirit.  You also remember that Webster defines Daemons as the evil spirits of traditional Jewish and Christian belief. So can a human who does things that are considered evil in the traditional Jewish and Christian belief be an evil spirit or a Daemon? 

Most people think that Daemons are only evil supernatural created beings. But let me ask you this.  What is fallen man?  Again we should go to the Holy Bible for answers.

John 3: 19-20 says, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”

Micah 2:1 says, “Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds!  When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.”

Most people do evil deeds and nearly everyone thinks evil thoughts every now and then.

This must mean that the nature created beings are just as capable of being evil as are the evil supernatural created beings.

  

So how do we deal with evil spirits, evil muses, evil inspirations and evil supernatural created beings?

Some of the best ways to warfare against evil spirits, evil muses and evil inspirations of the human species is found in 2 Corinthians 10: 3-6.

³For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

⁴ (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

⁵ Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

⁶ And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Now how much of those scriptures are describing the human spirit and thought and actions?

Some of the best ways to warfare against evil supernatural created beings is found in Ephesians 6.

¹⁰ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

In our next devotion we will discover the weapons the God has given us to use against evil spirits, evil muses, evil inspirations and evil supernatural created beings.

Most Precious Father,

            Help me to a good follower of Jesus Christ and forgive me for the evil I have thought.  Fill me with your Holy Spirit.

For it is in Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Cdr. Myron Burrows

www.nbcornerstone.com

Spiritual Warfare: Part 2

Spiritual Warfare: Part 2

In our last devotion we talked about Warfare and we ended with the following question about the Spiritual World.

Are Daemons with us here on earth today?  What are Daemons?   Webster defines Daemons as the evil spirits of traditional Jewish and Christian belief.  Some synonyms provided by Webster are: spirits, muses, inspirations and supernatural beings.  Let’s explore where each of these Daemons abode.

Each of you are spirits living in a human body and your body has a mind that should be controlled by you, the human spirit.  Sometimes we allow this control to get mixed up.  For example our body is hungry and tells our mind and our mind tells the body to eat without consulting the spirit, you.  Yes, this might be hard to understand, but what is addiction?  What does your mind and body hunger for?  For that matter, what do you, the spirit, hunger for? 

Muses are our thoughts of the mind.  When one ponders or deliberates or contemplates he or she muses.  Can one have evil thoughts or evil muses?  Hmmm.  Daemons of the mind.  Inspirations are muses with intent.  Inspirations are motivations, stimulations or encouragements.  Evil inspirations are evil temptations.   Can you name some evil muses and evil inspirations of your mind?  Don’t blame them on Satan.

Oh, that’s right, we haven’t talked about the evil supernatural created beings.  Satan or Lucifer is one of those evil supernatural created beings.  The best source to read up on supernatural beings is the Holy Bible.

In Isaiah 14:12, we read,  “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!”

Even Jesus saw Lucifer fall; as spoken in Luke 10:18, “And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.”

Satan drew with him one third of all created beings from heaven as spoken in Revelation 12: 4, “ And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth:”

The Holy Bible warns us in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 

So yes, Daemons are here with us on earth today as well as in the time of Job as spoken in Job 1:7,”And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.”

Now this devotion is entitled Spiritual Warfare, so how do we deal with evil spirits, evil muses, evil inspirations and evil supernatural created beings? 

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s devotion when we revisit Luke 10:17-19.

Our Gracious Heavenly Father

Thank you for all you do for us each day and night to bring us closer to you.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Cdr. Myron Burrows

         www.nbcornerstone.com

Spiritual Warfare: Part 1

Spiritual Warfare: Part 1

When we talk about Warfare many different pictures come to mind.

I remember my fifth grade World History Class discussion with Mr. Wheeler on the history of Naval Warfare which included discussions on the 122 ships of the 1588 Spanish Armada, the British and French fleets of the 1700’s and the 1814 battle of Lake Champlain during the War of 1812.  I also remember studying about Submarine Warfare and early Naval Aviation.  Then I joined the United States Marine Corps and learned firsthand about Jungle Warfare during the Vietnam War.

Warfare is all about killing and conquering; no matter whether it is the tribes in Africa or the Americas or warlords in Asia or Europe.  Humans kill humans just like plants kill plants and animals kill animals and they all kill each other and themselves.

Webster defines warfare as: Military Service in a contest carried on by enemies.  Warfare is even mentioned in the Holy Bible in 1 Samuel 28:1 and 2 Corinthians 10:4.  Warfare is waging armed conflict against an enemy.  You might ask how are plants armed to fight other plants. Well studying lichen biology one find that lichens use chemical warfare to ward off other lichen as well as slugs and deer.  Have you ever suffered from the exposure to Poison Ivy?  Oh, and with what does a shark or a cat use to kill?  I’m sure horses and cows use the same thing to kill grass.

We have talked about humans, animals and plants.  Are there any other living things of the natural or physical world that could be enemies?   No?  Oh, that’s right; rocks and minerals are not living.

Are there other living beings in this world that are not made of physical matter?  How about Daemons?   Wait, Daemons are of the Spiritual World.  Are they actually with us today?

Learn more about the Spiritual World in tomorrow’s Devotion.

Dear Heavenly Father,

                Thank you for allowing us to learn about and experience warfare.  Prepare us and help us to use what you have taught us to do your will.  We love you.

In the precious name of Jesus,

Amen

Cdr. Burrows
Royal Rangers Leader
www.nbcornerstone.com 

Focus On The Focus Part 9

Focus On The Focus: Tears for Generations

“That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.”—Numbers 14:1

There is a story told about the famous French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. He was traveling through a Jewish town in Europe when he entered a synagogue. There he saw men, women, and children, all sitting on the floor, weeping and reading from ancient texts. The room was almost completely dark and the atmosphere was gloomy.

“What great misfortune occurred?” Napoleon wanted to know. He assumed that something terrible must have just happened to the Jews. The Jewish officer with him knew otherwise. He explained, “It is the ninth of Av on the Hebrew calendar. On this day, every year, Jews around the world gather to mourn the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem.” Napoleon asked, “When did that happen?” The officer replied, “Two thousand years ago.” Napoleon was shocked and said, “Any people that still cry for their land and their Temple after two thousand years will surely merit seeing both returned to them.”

Indeed, the land of Israel has been returned to the Jewish people. But as the Temple still lies in ruins, Jews continue to mourn on the ninth of Av. In fact, it’s not just the destruction of the Temples that they mourn on that day. The ninth of Av is a black day in Jewish history, a day when many tragedies occurred, including the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem, the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492, and the beginning of World War I which led to World War II and the Holocaust. The ninth of Av is a day of sadness!

When the spies returned to the Israelites and gave a bad report about the land of Israel, they caused weeping among the people. Even though they had just witnessed the awesome power of God in Egypt and had recently pledged to accept His Word and obey His commands, the Israelites lacked faith and obedience that night. They cried because they didn’t want to go into Israel. They cried because they were afraid. But ultimately, they cried for no good reason.

It’s as if God responded, “They cried for no reason, so I will give them a good reason to cry!” That night was the ninth of Av, which has become a night of tears for all generations.

Let’s consider what we cry about. If we whine and complain for no good reason, it won’t go over well with God. On the other hand, the Sages teach that when we cry for good reasons, we will be rewarded. Those who weep over the Temple will get to see it rebuilt. Those who cry for the sake of God will see God do great things for them.  Be blessed...  See you Sunday!

Rev. John Watford

Senior Pastor

www.nbcornerstone.com

Focus On The Focus Part 8

Focus On the Focus: Israel’s Not-So-Secret Weapon

“If the LORD had not been on our side

when people attacked us,they would have swallowed us alivewhen their anger flared against us.”—Psalm 124:2–3

Israel is 1/800th the size of the Arab world, most of which is bent upon destroying her. By all natural calculations, Israel should not exist. Israel should have disappeared before she even declared independence. How is it possible for such a tiny nation to survive in the midst of her enemies? It’s like Daniel in the lion’s den!

The truth is that Israel should have disappeared long ago with all of the other nations of the world that have come and gone, risen and fallen. No other nation on earth has been expelled from its own homeland and then survived to return to it. And Israel did it twice – once in the year 538 B.C.E., and then again, more than two thousand years later in 1948. Israel is one big miracle!

In 1898, long before the miracle of the re-birth of Israel came into being, Mark Twain was perplexed as to how the Jewish people could even be alive. He wrote this: “The Greeks and the Romans … are gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch for a time but it burned out … the Jews saw them all, survived them all … all things are mortal but the Jew … What is the secret of his immortality?”

The secret of the immortality of the Jews is actually no secret at all. God says very clearly that He will preserve the Jews and bring them back to Israel. Here is just one example: “‘I am with you and will save you,’ declares the LORD. ‘Though I completely destroy all the nations among which I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you’” (Jeremiah 30:11).

In Psalms 124, the psalmist writes about Israel’s secret weapon: God! He wrote, “If the LORD had not been on our side when people attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive.” In every generation, someone tries to destroy the Jews, yet every time the plot is foiled. The psalmist continued, “The snare has been broken, and we have escaped” (v.7). Just when the Jews seem trapped and slated for destruction, the trap is broken and the Jews are saved. God steps in and that’s why the Jews are still here today.

Friends, when you need some inspiration or encouragement to believe that anything is possible with God, you need not look any further than Israel. If Israel can beat the odds, so can you. If Israel can receive miracles, so can you. The God of Israel can do anything, so never lose hope. We know the secret to Israel’s success, and God can be our secret weapon, too!

Rev. John Watford

Senior Pastor

www.nbornerstone.com

Focus On The Focus Part 7

Focus on the Focus--how to come out on nTop when You are Under a Spiritual Attack!

Daniel's life hung by a thin thread. He had been found guilty of breaking the law.  His crime--he was found praying, not just once, but three times a day!  Would to God there was enough evidence to charge all of God's people with this crime!


Forgive me for meddling, but prayer impacted his life and his spirit-led life was having an impact on the king, a man who did not know the God of Daniel!  Daniel's prayers also stirred up the demonic world!  They were losing ground, they were losing control of a man who could impact the entire worlds.  What a powerful weapon is a man, woman or child on their knees! They are of a race greater than all the bombs, bullets, and ballistic missiles in every arsenal in every country around the world!

One man on his knees! One man determined to represent God in a part of the world where the demonic activity was at its pinnacle was overturning the spiritual powers of darkness! One man on his knees was unseating the Prince of Persia, the fallen angel who had been assigned by Lucifer to rule that geographic region! What power!  What supernatural power is available and unleashed when we determine to not compromise our faith and to represent our Lord wherever we are! What power Father has bestowed upon us with His promise, "Call upon Me and I will answer you!"

You cannot fight spiritual beings with human weapons of the will and promises. The victory is won on your knees and manifested by your life of spiritual and moral integrity knowing that you represent God on earth!
Be blessed and come back tomorrow for more Focus On the Focus!



Rev. John Watford
Senior Pastor
www.nbcornerstone.com

Focus On The Focus Part 6

Focus on THE Focus---How To Come Out on Top When You Are Under a Spiritual Attack!

Last Sunday I shared this teaching from first hand experiences!  It is one thing to have read of someone else's experience but it is quite another to have faced the demonic attack yourself.  This was not my first and according to Scripture, "They that would live godly (God-like) shall suffer persecution!"

First, let me distinguish a spiritual attack from troubles we bring on ourselves.  All are demonic in plan and purpose and with the same demonic desired outcome as Jesus said, "the thief comes for no other purpose but to steal, kill, and destroy!"  But the battles we bring upon ourselves come as a result of opening a door to demonic activity when we rebel against the known will of God.

Jesus said, "Satan has come but he has nothing in Me."  The meaning, Satan had NO POWER over Jesus because there was nothing of Satan's in Jesus!  Jesus had "given no place to the devil!"  His faith, His life and His lack of fear was a result of walking obediently to the Holy Spirit within Him and "giving NO place to the devil."

Was Jesus attacked spiritually and physically?  The obvious answer is "Yes!" to both.  What's the difference? Satan's attacks upon Jesus focused on Jesus' calling-Who He was!  Open door attacks eat away at us because we allowed some demon to dangle a juicy carrot before us.  Instead of "keeping our bodies under submission" and "denying ungodly Iust,"  we see, we want, we give in and we suffer!  Sunday familiar?  When will we learn? When will we, the children of the Almighty, Loving Father ever accept that "In Your Presence O Lord, is fullness of life!"

Confess the sin. Declare your hate for it!  Some demon received a merit badge when you yielded to his seduction!  Get righteously angry at him--and yourself, but then get right with God and accept His loving forgiveness.  Ask the Holy Spirit to make you aware of demonic seductive snares, and when He does avoid them. Don't just say "No!" to them when tempted but quote the Word of God to the demon who tempts you!  Focus on THE Focus, "In His Presence I have found fullness of life!"

More tomorrow on "How to come out on top when under a spiritual attack!  Be blessed!  

Rev. John Watford
Senior Pastor
www.nbcornerstone.com

Focus On The Focus: Part 5

Focus on THE Focus---Passing on the Torch

“Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the LORD commanded Moses.”—Numbers 8:3

There was a funeral on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem for a Jewish man from New York who had lived a long life and died peacefully. Yet when his son read his eulogy, everyone had tears in their eyes. The son spoke about a man who was simple and poor. He spoke about how when he was younger, he was embarrassed by his father, but as he grew older, his respect for his father grew.

The son was sorry that he only came to appreciate his father when it was “too late” but was proud that he was continuing his father’s legacy by raising his children in Jerusalem where they wouldn’t have a luxurious life, but a meaningful one. The son concluded his eulogy: “Dad, you didn’t have much to leave behind, but you left behind EVERYTHING that matters.”

Our children, our families and all with whom The Holy Spirit brings into our lives are ours not by fate or coincidence but by divine design!  We see them as gifts from God to whom WEPASS ON His Love, and how to know Him personally!


My father did not leave much behind, a few papers, a worn leather wallet, a police badge and a pair of handcuffs. But my mother told me about three months before he murdered, he started reading his Bible, praying, and attended a little red Baptist church in the rural South Carolina. 

Today his son reads his Bible, prays, and serves as pastor of Cornerstone Assembly, the greatest church in North Carolina!  Perhaps I am a little prejudice.  Make you past a torch burning bright with faith and love for God to those around you!  Be blessed! Focus on Passing the Torch!

Rev. John Watford
Senior Pastor
www.nbcornerstone.com